CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCES SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS GROWTH

(California) —- On October 17th the U.S. Census Bureau announced the U.S. population officially hit 300 million people. Not only does California make up approximately 36 million of these people, but the Census Bureau also included the following California cities in the top ten fastest growing cities in the U.S.: Elk Grove, Moreno Valley, Rancho Cucamonga and Irvine.

Businesses, specifically franchised companies, are rapidly expanding in the state of California in order to keep up with demand. There are an estimated 1,500 different franchisors operating in the United States and there are more than 320,000 franchise retail outlets in the country. Most consumers probably don’t realize that the franchise industry accounts for 40 percent of all retail sales in the United States.

Estimates put employment in the franchising industry at 18 million, with a new franchise opening in the country every eight minutes. With managerial experience and a proven business plan already in place, franchisors are able to see a profit and expand quickly on an existing concept. Due to tremendous growth and success, the following companies will soon become household names in the Golden State.

Synergy HomeCare – Richard and Ana May Seron recently opened the first California Synergy HomeCare location in Ventura. Synergy began franchising in 2005 and has an aggressive growth plan for the United States. This includes opening at least 40 more locations in California by 2008.

Synergy HomeCare provides in-home, non-medical care to individuals requiring daily living assistance. Support is available 365 days a year to seniors, disabled children and adults, expectant mothers, injured workers and more. A wide range of services allows clients to customize their care without committing to long-term contracts, and an extensive screening process ensures only the most qualified caregivers are hired.

Pirtek – There are currently six Pirtek service centers in California, with a plan for at least 35 more by 2008. Currently, there are 35 Pirtek service centers and approximately 150 Pirtek mobile service vans serving major metropolitan markets throughout the United States.

Pirtek is the world’s leading service provider of 24-hour, on-site hose and assembly replacement, serving almost every facet of industry including construction, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and engineering among others. Pirtek reduces costly down time to a minimum with its on-site service. Its fully equipped mobile service vans usually arrive in less than an hour staffed by a technically qualified Mobile Sales and Service Technician (MSST). The vans are stocked with a full range of hoses and more than 700 different fittings and adaptors, along with a crimping press and cut-off saw to manufacture hose assemblies on site.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives – LeGina Glass in San Diego, Aldon Caron in the Bay area, and Jim Jones in Orange County are all owners of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives in California. With 73 Outdoor Lighting Perspectives nationwide, the company has major expansion plans for the California market, looking to add at least 50 locations by 2008.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives market is primarily upscale residential homeowners but also includes trade partners (other service contractors, builders, landscape architects, etc.). The company also does a limited amount of commercial lighting in park-like settings (such as for outdoor restaurants) and entryways for business parks and neighborhoods.

Rapid Refill Ink - Spencer Fivelson recently opened Southern California’s first Rapid Refill Ink location in the Los Angeles area. Rapid Refill Ink plans to open at least 50 locations throughout California over the next two years.

Rapid Refill Ink specializes in the remanufacturing/refilling and selling of inkjet and laser toner cartridges. Rapid Refill Ink is the only U.S.-based retailer in the industry with storefront operations that utilize state-of-the-art technology and equipment to remanufacture cartridges. A typical Rapid Refill Ink store carries 1,100 different inkjet cartridges and 200 models of laser toner cartridges.