Before making your decision to join the Take-A-Break team, it is important for us to ensure that you are comfortable and confident with your commitment to financial and personal freedom. To that end, we have compiled a list of the most common questions that have been asked by prospective licensees in the past. If, however, you have other questions that have not been addressed in this section, PLEASE feel free to contact us with your queries.
Q. What is the Take-A-Break License and what does it cost?
A. The Take-A-Break license is an agreement that entitles you to generate advertising revenue within a specific, designated, protected territory while adhering to guidelines and conditions set within the agreement. The licensor also covenants to provide ongoing media content and marketing support as part of the agreement. The initial license fee is $995 for the first territory license and $695 for each additional territory thereafter.
Q. What is the term of the Take-A-Break Licensing Agreement?
A. The initial term of every agreement is 5 years with option to renew for an additional 5 year term.
Q. What does protected territory mean?
A. Protected territory means that you, as the licensee, have exclusive rights to market the Take-A-Break concept in your protected area so long as you are not in default of the Licensing Agreement, and continue to operate under the guidelines of the Licensing Agreement.
Q.What other fees are charged?
A. Each licensee is charged a weekly content and administration fee of $38.00 for the first territory/license and $18.00 per week for each additional territory/license thereafter. The fee is paid monthly by credit card.
Q. Do you
provide the weekly content?
A. We provide all content for each issue. Pre-set
content is sent to each licensee via e-mail for a 4 week period. The
licensee then places the advertising for his specific territory that
he has sold within the designated spaces on each side of the
content.
Q. What kind of equipment do I need?
A. The uniqueness of Take-A-Break is that it is simply a home-based and operated business that requires the use of a personal computer, a scanner and an ink-jet printer capable of printing up to tabloid size sheets. Most household already have a PC, and the investment for the additional two pieces of equipment is minimal. Software used in the compilation of advertising for each issue is basic and easy to operate. However, some licensees have elected to invest in fully connected digital printers (black ink and color) to lower production costs and create a secondary revenue stream offering printing and copying services. Many of our assocaites have gone on to set up a mini copy centre as a business simply from the sales leads and markets needs for printing, copying and related services within their areas.
Q. Do I need sales experience?
A. No experience is necessary. We are all salesmpeople in one way or another and we practice the basic principles of salesmanship every single day in almost every interaction we have with others. We just don't realize it. At Take-A-Break, our sales manuals and constant updates guide you in dealing with prospects and help you in dealing with the one big obstacle everyone suffers in sales - the fear of rejection. An important leasson we have learnt from our associates is that once that dreaded fear has been overcome and the first, second, third... sales are made, they become confident in their business and social lives.
Q. How do I set up distribution?
A. Take-A-Break newsletters are distributed free within your territory to any establishment and business where people gather, wait, or have time to browse over interesting material to read like Take-A-Break. Issues are generally distributed to restaurants, fast food establishments, coffee shops, bars, medical offices, pizzerias, auto repair shops, etc ... and any business where there is potential exposure. Setting up distribution points is simple but requires initial hard work by physically visiting each location with a sample of the Take-A-Break issue and the issue holder. On the average, 90% of all establishments you visit for distribution purposes are positive about supplting a publication such as Take-A-Break in their locations for their customer comfort.
Q.. Can I charge my own advertising rate?
A. Yes. We provide you with rate guidelines but your are not bound by them in any way. You must understand, however, that you are in business to make a profit and the advertising medium your represent has a value. Know your costs, know your market and you will appreciate that pricing guidelines we have provided are extremely reasonable for the value the advertiser receives in exposure. If you are discounting your rates, it is important to note that you are essentially diluting your pricing power and diluting your brand and creating a trap for yourself. Pricing and marketing have significant psychological implications, so DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT!
Q. Do I have to use the content you provide?
A. YES and WITHOUT EXCEPTION! It is essential that all content provided to you weekly be used in the exact same way as presented to you in order to have consistency among all weekly Take-A-Break issues.
Q.. How do I set up advertising?
A. Generally, advertisers will provide you with their business card, brochure or material for their advertisement in Take-A Break. Our simple to use Advertising Set-Up Manual provides you with a step-by-step guide to advertisement set-up. However, some of our multi-unit licensees have elected to use outside sources for advertisement creation while charging the advertiser.
Q. Where can I get my Take-A-Break weekly issues produced?
A. Take-A-Break issues are generally initially produced at your local copy centre or print shop. However, it is essential that you get the most competitive price for production, and that's where the Take-A-Break Guide to Print will help you. This guide highlights negotiating the best deal for you by advising you of what the printers' hard costs are, thereby giving you significant leverage in the negotiating process. Many of our licensees, however, have elected to purchase or lease their own connected digital printers where multi-units are concerned or supplying other Take-A-Break licensees at competitive prices. We also provide you with information, guidance and knowledge with new and used equipment available for prospective licensees and service costs for this equipment. Once you have the equipment in place, you open a whole new profit centre in providing digital print services for your market and customers and Take-A-Break does not take any financial or material interest in this revenue stream.
Q.. Can I sell my Take-A-Break license / territory?
A. Absolutely. The Take-A-Break license can be sold at anytime for any reason. Our requirement during any sale or transfer of the license is that the purchaser be approved by our Licensing Board and a transfer fee equal to 25% of the sale price be paid to Take-A-Break Publications to administer the transfer.
Q. How long does it take to be in business?
A. The entire process after approval of your application and receipt of documentation and fees takes between 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the volume of applications received and the territory survey. |
