FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Joel Libava
Franchise Selection Specialists, INC.
29125 Chagrin Blvd. #200
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
Phone: 216-831-2610

Media Contact:
Sanderson & Associates, Ltd.
Lauren or Courtney
Phone: 312-829-4350
E-mail: lauren@sandersonpr.com 

One-Stop Resource - New Online Portal Offers A-to-Z Information on Franchising in Ohio

Cleveland, OH -- November 1, 2006 -- The state of Ohio is ranked in the top five of all states for number of jobs created by franchised businesses, yet until now there has been no convenient way for those with an interest in getting into franchising or those already in the industry to both provide and access information.

A new online portal – www.theohiofranchisecenter.com - is dedicated exclusively to franchising in Ohio, providing pertinent, timely information for Ohio residents from veteran franchise industry leaders throughout the state.

The site was designed to serve three specific audiences: a) Ohio residents who are interested in and looking for information to start a franchised business; b) existing Ohio franchises and suppliers who want to promote their businesses; and c) franchisors and suppliers who are looking to enter the Ohio market.

Joel Libava, president of Beachwood-based Franchise Selection Specialists, Inc., one of Ohio’s premier franchise consulting companies, conceived The Ohio Franchise Center web site. Libava, along with his father, Jerry, are longtime franchising industry veterans who launched their company in 1990.

Libava got his inspiration for the web site in a place that’s been the wellspring of countless innovative ideas along with some terrible singing – the shower. “I was taking a shower and I asked myself, ‘What is missing in franchising in the state of Ohio?’ All of a sudden, the idea for TheOhioFranchiseCenter.com came to me,” Libava said. “No one else has ever done this. It’s the first site of its kind owned by an Ohioan.”

Libava collaborated with Mark Geyman on the site’s informative, easy-to-use design. Geyman is the founder of OhioBiz.com, Ohio’s largest search directory of business, organization, community and education-related web sites.

TheOhioFranchiseCenter.com offers a wealth of useful information, especially for individuals interested in starting a franchised business. Visitors can find information on how to select the right franchise, a listing of franchises for sale and contact information for resources such as attorneys specializing in franchise law, accounting firms specializing in small businesses as well as commercial real estate companies to help in identifying prime locations.

The site is easy to navigate because visitors don’t have to search and sort through information. It’s already done for them. The information provided is specific to each of five geographic areas of the state: Akron-Canton, Cincinnati-Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Links are also provided to a number of helpful state and federal agencies that provide assistance to small businesses.

In addition, franchising specialists such as attorneys or commercial real estate companies can exclusively sponsor pages related to their particular discipline.“I’m committed to promoting franchising in the state of Ohio,” Libava said. “My goal is to be the No. 1 informational portal in Ohio when it comes to franchising. I want everyone to think of TheOhioFranchiseCenter.com as their one-stop shop.”

According to a 2001 study of Ohio by the International Franchise Association, there were 782,061 jobs in franchised businesses in Ohio or 14.1 percent of all state jobs. There were 29,752 franchised businesses that generated 11 percent of payroll jobs in Ohio.

“I live in Ohio,” Libava said. “Ohio has had its struggles with the economy. I want to be able to educate people and I am committed to the growth and promotion of franchising in Ohio. It’s my backyard.”

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