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I think we all have things about our jobs that we like most. Occasionally, I get the opportunity to interview some of our San Antonio residents. I must admit that I enjoy meeting people like Gabe and Barbara Durand-Hollis, the Mayor and Board Secretary of the City of Hill Country Village.
Visiting with them brought me back to what I like to think of as the smallest of grass roots organizations. Neighborhoods.
From the day they moved into Hill Country Village in 2003, Gabe and Barbara knew they would be involved in the community. They had been involved in their previous neighborhood and naturally they would continue. For them and many, many like them it is a given. It’s what you do when you move into a neighborhood. We hope you enjoy their story, and we are happy to report that HCV is meeting to decide what to do with their city owned land! Read on to learn more.
**This is one example of how our concept differs in the market. We love what we do and love telling these stories.
Check it out! Hill Country Village, July 2022
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]]>The post Neighbors Choice Excited to Sign First Franchisee first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>Neighborhood News: Hill Country to Open June 1
We are very excited to share the news about our First Neighbors Choice® franchisee!
Long time Boerne resident, Jennifer Gentry, is our first franchisee. Jennifer worked at Neighborhood News San Antonio for many years and has now become our first partner. “We are honored that she has such faith in our products, service and system to take this step”, says Susan Schopp, CEO of Neighbors Choice, LLC.
Jennifer is the ideal first franchisee. She knows the product, the market and has a great understanding of our system, “Plus she is a go-getter!”, says Faye Babbitt, a current but long time employee as well.
We have carved out a plum of a territory in Kendall County Texas, the IH 10 corridor and contiguous areas. This is a suburban San Antonio area that is seeing major current growth and is expected to have future explosive growth.
When drafting the territory it made sense to look at a smaller area that focused on density rather than zip codes, counties or population, etc. This territory based on all will enable us to offer territories of all shapes and sizes.
Although this can be a work-at-home opportunity, Jennifer opted to open an office. She is excited about it and likes that It offers common waiting and conference areas which was a “huge plus” both for her and customers. “I also like the separation of work and home. I think it’ll keep me more organized..” she said.
Boerne is a charming and bustling small town just North of San Antonio. It is home to many shops and restaurants and is a destination for many Saturday afternoon shoppers and visitors. River Road Park which runs alongside the Cibolo Creek is a favorite place to sit on a bench and watch the ducks float by.
The City of Boerne expects rapid growth. According to the 2016 Master Plan “The City of Boerne could potentially double its current population size by 2020 and even triple its size by 2030. Likewise, Kendall County could double its population size by 2040.” It is well on its way.
Congratulations Jennifer & Welcome to Neighbors Choice!
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]]>The post Susan Schopp Explains the Neighbors Choice Concept first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>I am interested in Franchising Information
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Your Publishing Services
I Am Interested in Advertising
The post Susan Schopp Explains the Neighbors Choice Concept first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>The post New to Business Ownership? You’ll Love the Ease of Entry With Neighbors Choice® first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>Do you want your own business but don’t know where to start? Finding a business to start or purchase can be overwhelming. You may wonder what is involved or how to get started. If this is what’s holding you back, a Neighbors Choice® franchise could be just what you are looking for! With us, you don’t need to know everything. You’ll be working with experts who have the answers and will teach and guide you. By becoming a franchisee of Neighbors Choice®, you can rest assured that you will be supported by our knowledgeable and highly experienced staff.
Business Ownership With Less Risk
There are always more things to consider than originally anticipated. Having a successful business supporting you with a set structure and 25+ years of success can be a powerful safety net. When you become a franchisee, you are not only investing in your future. You are also investing in the knowledge and expertise of the franchisor that is motivated to help you succeed. A strong foundation, guided by experts in the business, mean your business is in a strong position from day one.
Less Time, Effort, and Money
When starting a new business, especially during the first year of operations, there are many things to consider. Employees, processes and procedures, marketing campaigns, accounting, laws, and regulations are all things you will learn about. If you want to start a new business but are not sure how then let Neighbors Choice® guide you in business ownership. The business efficiencies that Neighbors Choice® provides each franchisee will enable you to spend less time, effort, and money on getting your business off the ground.
Better Lifestyle Everyday
Spending long hours at the office is not unreasonable during the first year of business, however, with a Neighbors Choice® franchise, the flexibility to work remotely is a huge plus. Our tried and true method of growth will enable you to plan and use your time efficiently and with a lot of flexibility. This means you no longer have to miss your children’s school events or even that week-long trip, because you will control your schedule.
Easy Transition To Work at Home
Many of us are already working at home so the transition to this work at home concept is easy to do. Plus many of your customers will be in and around your community, making the transition even easier. You will be immersed in the community where your core business resides. With neighborhood leaders and local businesses surrounding you, working from home is the perfect hub to keep your finger on the pulse of the business.
Low Investment; Ease of Entry
Many people are looking for home business ideas where they can actually make a living. Our low entry investment will enable you to get started and experience the benefits of business ownership. The global pandemic has taught us that we can easily work from home. We found that we enjoy seeing our families, friends and neighbors! Follow our successful system and a Neighbors Choice® franchise will reward you for the work you put into it, financially, professionally, and personally.
Neighbor’s Choice® offers a long-term business structure with a proven record of success. The franchisee will understand the entire framework of the business, complete in-house or virtual training, learn processes and procedures, and gain the knowledge necessary to ensure a rewarding business for many years to come.
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]]>The post 3 Reasons Why A Neighbors Choice® Franchise Makes Sense for Your Community first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>Neighborhood News, Staff Writer
The importance of neighborhood news is intertwined within the fabric of communities across America. News is a vital part of our everyday lives. We expect to easily obtain this information, especially on matters that impact us directly. Below is a list of the top three reasons why a local Neighbors Choice® franchise is important:
REASON #1 – COMMUNICATION DISCONNECT BETWEEN HOA AND RESIDENTS
Creating a cohesive community is directly impacted by whether a community newsletter or website exists, or not. Many HOA community leaders are at a loss as to how to connect with residents. This difficulty resides in the many ways we communicate today. Finding the right media channel to distribute vital neighborhood news is no small feat for most neighborhood associations.
This is where the local Neighbors Choice® saves the day! Everyone can agree that picking up a printed newsletter that has been delivered right to your door or email inbox is incredibly convenient. The fact that there is zero cost for this service is just icing on the cake.
REASON #2 – COMMUNITY NEWS FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE
Reliable neighborhood news is expected by residents of their HOA. Regular and reliable information meets community expectations and HOA notification guidelines. It also fosters the relationship between the two. Information is the most important asset in business and in the community. Having the support of the HOA and the neighborhood can be a powerful indicator of the value of living in the neighborhood, not to mention a tremendous impact to the quality of life.
Today’s residents want advance notice of neighborhood events, meetings, closures, elections, maintenance, repair, crime prevention and stats, and an abundance of other issues and announcements. The sooner our neighbors are alerted, the more included and secure they feel. Thus begins the building of steppingstones to a better relationship between HOA’s and community residents and a better quality of life for all.
REASON #3 – BRINGING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY BACK TOGETHER
When residents feel that their voice and needs matter to HOA management, they are more likely to talk about what a great neighborhood they live in with family and friends, This creates seemingly organic-type marketing that flows naturally.
Newsletter franchise owners can help by encouraging HOA’s to start organizing Local Neighborhood News Committees built up with local neighborhood residents. This is a great way to get residents involved in neighborhood affairs. Many residents would like to participate in helping their neighborhood or volunteering however, they are unaware that these opportunities exist.
This is the perfect opportunity for those yearning to make a positive difference in the world around you. Being a franchisee is so much more than printing and distributing newsletters or building websites, it is the glue that binds neighbors together. Call us today so you can learn more about how to get your own home-based Neighbors Choice® franchise business started! NeighborsChoice.com
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]]>The post Neighborhood Awareness Celebrations first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>Franchise Field: Community Involvement
July 30, 2021
Neighborhood Awareness Celebrations
Community involvement is at an all-time high. People are looking for ways to get involved. Plus, many have decided that they want to work at home. Around 4 million people have either changed jobs, started their own business or are looking for an opportunity that will give them that luxury.
A Neighbors Choice® franchise is a unique opportunity to work at home while helping to establish or enhance communication within area neighborhoods. Your business will create a valuable partnership between local businesses and residents. This unique relationship makes for better and more authentic information, more active neighbors, and a more positive environment. The more you become involved in your community the more you will see the need for good communication.
You will learn about many resources available to neighborhoods. This knowledge will help you in your business and help your local community. For example, National Night Out and Neighbor Awareness Day are two annual events that work to help promote relationships among neighbors and promote safety and “Good Neighbor” awareness.
National Night Out – August 3 & October 5
“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.” NNO dates back to 1970 when a community watch volunteer was on a mission to help his community. National Night Out was officially introduced in 1984. Since then, 16,000 communities and over 38 million neighbors have taken part in this annual event. National Night Out is celebrated on the first Tuesday in August except in Texas and a few other places it is celebrated the on the first Tuesday in October. Registration is free. Resources to help plan National Night Out events will be provided to you.
National Good Neighbor Day – September 28
“In 1978, U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced the creation of a national day aimed at raising public awareness that good neighbors help achieve human understanding and build strong, thriving communities. Since then, National Good Neighbor Day has been celebrated every year on September 28th.” Their motto is “Good Neighbors Make Great Neighborhoods” and ask participants to pledge to be a good neighbor and practice the Good Neighbor Mindset.
Neighbors Choice®
To learn more about Neighbors Choice® and how you can have a terrific work-at-home business while helping your community, give us a shout. To learn more about this affordable franchise opportunity be sure and visit our website or send us a message. We look forward to visiting with you.
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]]>The post Home is Where the Work Is: Regain Flexibility with a Home-Based Franchise first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>With 52% of small businesses run at home, the interest in home based franchise opportunities has grown in recent years. Remote franchise opportunities are much more affordable than brick-and-mortar franchises as they require less investment in infrastructure.
Sound enticing? Here are some additional benefits for home-based franchise opportunities:
- Eliminate the high cost of renting office space
- Kiss your commute goodbye!
- Schedule work hours around personal commitments
- Take advantage of tax deductions for using part of your home as a workplace
- Low start-up costs
The opportunity to purchase an affordable, home based franchise business that can keep costs low while still helping neighbors might be exactly what the economy needs.
At Neighbors Choice, we offer individuals an opportunity to become self-employed and invest in a neighborhood newsletter franchise business that offers a flexible work environment, with unlimited potential to create a product that benefits community residents and small business owners alike.
Our franchisees are able to enjoy a work-life balance with the flexibility to work from home or in a dedicated office space. We want our franchisees to run their business in an environment that is best suited for their lifestyle.
Compared to other franchise opportunities, our initial investment is low, with franchise fees ranging from $35,000 to $85,000 depending on if you prefer to work from home or have an office with a receptionist.
With community involvement at the core of our brand, our franchisees serve within their designated territory to help bridge the gap between residents and the business community, all with the flexibility of working from home.
With over 100 newsletters in micro-local communities across Texas, we are seeking well-qualified individuals with sales experience and a desire to be involved with their community to join our neighborhood newsletter franchise. You have the opportunity to take over an existing neighborhood with established newsletters and advertisers and / or the option to grow into untapped markets.
Learn more about franchise opportunities with Neighbors Choice®.
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]]>The post Client Testimonials first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
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“As a small business owner, I’ve been running ads in four neighborhood newsletters. Right after the newsletters starting hitting the mail boxes, I received several calls and got a few jobs right away. I am extremely happy I was with my decision to advertise with Neighbors Choice.”
Meagan Harvey
Arborist and Small Business Owner
“Our retirement community has advertised with Neighbors Choice for over 20 years. We have found that neighborhood residents really do read their newsletter each month because it’s about this that are of interest to them. Our customers tell us they knew about us because of the newsletter. The staff at Neighborhood News is very easy to work with. They adjust well to your advertising needs and will work with you to develop an ad schedule that is right for you.”
Martha Anderson
Marketing Director
“Neighborhood News is an excellent resource for community outreach. When the COVID-19 epidemic affected San Antonio, the community at The Estates at Arrowhead were able to rely on their neighborhood newsletter to keep everyone connected and informed.”
Veronica Morales
Professional Management Assist
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]]>The post Spring into Franchising with Neighbors Choice first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>We’re on a mission to spread the word about our micro-local publication services. Our franchise partners have the opportunity to build authentic connections with community leaders and businesses of all sizes by providing ad space. This brings the unique opportunity to be a community-oriented entrepreneur, all with a low investment range.
After 25 years of running a successful business model, we serve nearly 100 communities throughout Texas in major markets such as Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Now, with continued growth on the horizon, we are looking to expand across Texas and Arizona.
“Our concept has evolved over the years, becoming a valuable resource for communities throughout Texas, and it’s truly a win-win-win proposition for everyone involved,” said Susan Schopp, President, and CEO of Neighbors Choice™. “Community leadership teams win, the small business advertisers win, and we have the pleasure of helping residents connect through subject matters that are relevant and valuable to their local areas. We are thrilled to begin franchising with like-minded entrepreneurs who want to invest in and build a community-centered business, provide news that’s close to home, and reap the rewards from our proven system.”
While franchisees work with neighborhood groups to build their territory, they also sell ad space to local business owners. Our corporate team then facilitates the collection and placement of the newsletter content, printing, and distribution process. Franchisees receive comprehensive training and support while selling a variety of products and services that improve and enhance the communication between the local business community and neighborhood residents.
In addition to providing recurring revenue, our model gives franchisees the flexibility to work from home in their designated territory and bridge the gap between residents and business owners. We are currently seeking well-qualified, dynamic salespeople who are passionate about being involved in their community.
Learn more about franchise opportunities with Neighbors Choice®.
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]]>The post Our Story. first appeared on Neighbors Choice®.
]]>Back in 1996 I was married and had a son starting kindergarten and was staying home with my 2 year old daughter. My husband was in the oil and gas business, a “wild catter” if you will. This basically meant that we were either doing OK financially or were flat broke.
Not taking anything away from John as he is a great salesperson. I mean anyone who can sell holes in the ground for upwards of $300,000 has to have some skills. It was his passion and I was ok with that. But I wanted to contribute to the family purse. The kids and I had very little money to do much of anything, No McDonalds, zoo or lunches out.
So, each day when he came home from work I would run by my latest idea of starting a business. I had so many ideas. I even had an idea of helping other people come up with idea on what business they should start!
Each day he thought about it and said nah.. I don’t think that will work for these reasons…
At this time we were both involved in our neighborhood. John was on the Board of directors and I did our neighborhood newsletter. At the time I was also working as a freelance writer and published Special Sections for the newspaper, like Bridal Guides, Gardening Sections, etc.
One day after visiting with an advertiser from the paper who was wanting to get more local (this was 1996), 2 and 2 came together and the idea was born.
I told John about it as soon as he came home, I had already made up my mind anyway, and he loved the idea. He made me an offer.
“For every day that you tell me that you had a “good day” I will give you 20 bucks”, he told me.
WOW! I was so excited. This could buy McDonalds, the Zoo, as much as a mom and a 2 small children can handle!
I set out each day to make my 20 bucks. The hitch was that I had to have a “good day” which to me meant something positive had to happen. Mainly, someone had to say YES.
I’ll admit that somedays that YES came before 9 am and the kids and I took off for the day but there were many, many, other days that YES didn’t come until 5 or 6 or even 7. If I couldn’t get an actual YES I would try to accomplish something positive for the day so I could honestly collect my 20 dollars.
By the end of 30 days of positive outcomes I had a business to run.
I had recruited 3 neighborhoods, sold many ads, lined up printing and researched mailing. I had made commitments. I had made sales. There were neighborhoods out there expecting to get their newsletters in the mail.
Since then we’ve just been lucky. The business grew by Word of Mouth. We went into other cities by Word of Mouth! It is still our primary method of growth.
It has been a fantastic business and is an asset to the community and the small businesses that are a part of it. Now we are ready to share this concept with you.
There are many more stories to tell about Neighborhood News. Amazing, tragic, happy, sad, scary and everything you can imagine that small businesses go through when your employees are your family and your customers and vendors are your friends.
We hope you will love this business as much as we do.
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