Started in 1997, Billboard Connection began as an outdoor advertising agency before United Franchise Group acquired the concept and began offering it as a franchise in 2004.  Since 2004, Billboard Connection evolved into offering over 100 different forms of out-of-home advertising solutions for businesses.  With the addition of these additional product offerings, UFG added the additional brand IZON Global Media in 2012 to encompass all the franchise has to offer.

As the global leader for entrepreneurs, The United Franchise Group represents a wide network of well-known brand names such as SIGNARAMA, EmbroidMe, Transworld Business Advisors, SuperGreen Solutions and Plan Ahead Events in addition to the IZON & Billboard Connection Franchise.

IZON Global Media Franchisees work with business owners and other advertising agencies to facilitate their outdoor media advertising campaigns. They act as a full-service agency, covering consultation, contracting, design, production and reporting.  Outdoor media includes, though is not limited to:

• Billboards
• Bus shelters
• Kiosks
• Shopping mall signage
• Taxi advertising
• Bus advertising
• Cinema
• Airport/Train station advertising 

Why it works

With radio and print advertising steadily decreasing in effectiveness, and Television advertising inaccessibly expensive for most business owners, outdoor media campaigns have been becoming an increasingly desirable avenue for small to medium enterprises. As a result of the changing media environment, besides the Internet, outdoor media now represents the largest growing and most accessible active advertising medium in the world. By 2015 it will represent an $8+ Billion dollar a year industry.

The drawback for business owners who wish to run an outdoor media campaign is that unlike Television, Radio and print, there isn’t simply one person to call to begin coordinating their campaigns. IZON Global Media & Billboard Connection is the solution for business owners as a coordinator between the client and all other points of contact. For example, these points of contact may include:

• Designers
• Multiple Billboard owners
• Multiple Shop owners with advertising space
• Multiple Vehicle owners with advertising space
• Signage installers

At no additional cost to the client, IZON Global Media franchisees deliver their campaign, and manage it from start to finish. A business’ typical outdoor advertising campaign budget ranges between $10k to $100k+.

Income Sources for a Franchisee

Depending on the types of media used within a campaign there will be multiple income sources available to them. These include-

• Trail commissions on advertising space
• Markup/Commissions on production
• Markup/Commissions on designs
• Markup/Commissions on installations
• Add-ons

Overheads

One of the greatest strengths of a franchise such as this is that there are little-to-no overheads. Franchisees would have no employees, no equipment, no inventory, and as the business will be run virtually from a home office or shared workspace, no rent. With this type of setup, IZON Global Media Franchises have tremendous profit potential.

Software: How the franchise will be run

IZON franchises are run using cloud-based software, which means that they can be managed from anywhere in the world from a laptop or computer. The software is designed to manage all of the following:

• Quoting
• Accounting
• Project Management
• Debtors Ledger
• Client Management

Benefits of the Business

The benefits of the franchise are as follows:

• Low overheads
• Low investment
• No employees
• No equipment
• No inventory
• No rent
• Quick startup
• Full training included
• Ongoing support included
• Fully systemized
• Can be run from anywhere

The United Franchise Group offers their franchisees one of the most extensive and impressive training and ongoing support campaigns available. Included in the franchise price is a two-week training course.

Week 1

Franchisees are flown to West Palm Beach, Florida for an initial one-week training course. This course covers all aspects of the industry including:

• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Pricing
• How to deal with clients
• Business Management

As part of this first week airfare, hotel accommodations, and some meals are all included.

Week 2

Franchisees are given hands on assistance in jump-starting the marketing for their business. Franchisees will be assisted by a representative in joining network groups and going out to meet business decision makers.

At the conclusion of the training period the franchisee will have been given the tools and the know-how required to begin pushing their business.

Ongoing Support

There are a number of ongoing support programs offered by the United Franchise Group as part of the franchise, the most notable of which is the mentor program through which franchisees are assigned a mentor during the first year of their business. This mentor will assist the franchisee when necessary and help solve any problems that may arise.

Outside of the mentor program other forms of ongoing support include:

• Tech support
• Marketing Support
• Webinars
• Group conference calls
• Regional meetings
• Media conferences

Given that IZON franchises have a substantial marketing and networking component, this business would be ideal for a buyer who is driven and organized, with good communication skills. Existing franchisees have often come from sales, marketing or corporate backgrounds, though this type of experience isn’t necessary.