Some people think that if you’re a franchise owner, that’s it. You own one franchise, and you’re almost a glorified employee who works for the franchisor. You aren’t really a business owner. You can never grow your business. You just have one stand-alone store in the franchise network, and that’s it. But that simply isn’t the case, as you may already know. Some franchise owners end up running businesses that operate and manage several different franchises. You could own a corporation that has five gas stations in a region, six restaurants and three clothing stores. No, it wouldn’t happen overnight, but the point is that some people do take that approach. Those people are often called master franchisees or area developers, and obviously, it takes a long time to get to that stage in one’s career, if you go that route. But the point is, being a franchise owner never means that you can’t grow and expand your business – and we tak ... read more

People can learn a lot from Randy Durham. After all, winning the annual Franchisee of the Year award, which is voted on by fellow franchise owners throughout the system, which he did last year, is a sign that your business is on a good path. But securing it two years in a row? Randy is clearly doing something right. So, what’s the secret to all his success? We recently caught up with Randy came away with a few takeaways that other franchisees may want to emulate. First, there are no secrets. Randy that he talks on the phone to a lot of fellow Alta Mere franchisees and often shares tips about his business – mostly on topics like handling the window tinting of certain high-end cars. He learns a lot from other owners, and other owners likely learn from him. It’s never a bad idea to get to know your fellow franchisees and ... read more

For some of us, it’s that time of year again. Suddenly, we have more passengers in our car than usual. On our way to work, or on our way from work, we’re shuttling our kids – and maybe the neighbor’s kids – to school. That’s right. Back to school doesn't’t just mean back to school shopping. For some parents, it means back to school driving and picking up your kids from after school activities. Well, whatever your situation is, we at Moran Family of Brands think that this is probably a good time to offer some back-to-school carpool safety suggestions. There’s certainly never a bad time to think about car safety. So if your car is more full than ever, remember these safety tips. Buckle up. You probably don’t need any convincing that seatbelts save lives, but just in case your passengers do, the statistics make a good argument. According to the most recent statistics ... read more

If you’ve thought many times about starting a business but quickly dismissed the idea, there are probably some logical reasons holding you back.  Fear of failure, having the proper guidance and being able to market and sell your product or service could all be reasons why you hesitate in starting your own business. One possible solution to overcoming many of these fears is by looking into franchising. That is, running a business that is part of a regional or nationwide company. As you presumably know, McDonald’s is a franchise. So is Subway, Ace Hardware and Circle K. In fact, there are over 3,000 types of franchise brands in a wide range of industries. When you own a franchise, you’re the business owner – but it’s a little similar to being a condominium owner. In that situation, you own the property and have a lot of leewa ... read more

If you’ve ever considered window tinting for your cars, now is the best time to do it.  Why?  With the start of the summer approaching, temperatures across the country will rise to uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous levels.  And there’s probably almost nowhere on earth, where it can get more scorching than in a parked car. Just take a look at some of the facts on rising temperatures inside a car and the safety concerns the pose for passengers: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the temperature inside cars can rise almost 20 degrees within ten minutes even if windows are open. Studies show parked cars can quickly become greenhouses on wheels.  Infrared rays the enter the car are unable to get out, quickly warmin ... read more

Winter mornings can be cold, dark and dreary affairs. While no one cherishes the idea of rolling out of bed and climbing into a freezing cold car, there are steps you can take to making your morning commute a little bit nicer.  Installing a remote starter for your car can benefit your comfort, your car health and even your safety. Keep Warm The most noticeable benefit of using a remote car starter is the feeling of a nice, toasty car interior on those bitter-cold mornings. A remote starter can warm up your car for you while you get ready in the morning; that way by the time you make your way outside, you only have to briefly brave the icy winter air before enjoying the comfort of your lovely, warm car. Improve Long-Term Engine Performance A remote starter isn’t just beneficial for your personal comfort, it can actually be good for your car’s health, too. By startin ... read more

When you’ve had as much success as John and Jaime Blanton, there is plenty for which to be thankful this holiday season. But the Blantons, who own an Alta Mere/SmartView store in Denton, Texas, are grateful for more than just their store’s prosperity. Their loving family, supportive community and dedicated employees are all reasons for which the Blantons can give thanks. John, an ASE certified technician and former member of the U.S. Coast Guard, opened Barebones Auto Repair in 2011. The goal was, and always will be, to offer customers quality service at a reasonable price. He and his wife, Jaime, expanded their business by becoming Alta Mere/Smartview franchisees in 2016 after cultivating a loyal customer base, and they continue to see success. Jaime, who earned her B.A. in Journalism from Texas Christian University and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, play ... read more

With the sun setting earlier in the last few weeks after the end of daylight saving time, most commuters are driving home at dusk or even in total darkness each evening. To stay safe in the darkness, it’s important to take time for necessary safety precautions. That means properly maintaining your headlights to keep you, your passengers and other drivers safe on the roads. Clear, Bright Headlights Make a Difference Headlights are obviously a necessary component of your car, and it’s important to keep them in top working condition for many reasons. Properly adjusted and cared-for headlights can literally make the difference between life and death. Headlights allow you to see road markings, signs and unexpected obstacles. Over time, headlights inevitably get covered in grime, and the bulbs dim and burn out. Bright, clear headlights will give you the advantage of an extra second ... read more

Paint protection film is a unique service offering that will not only protect your car's paint job, but also ensure that every aspect of your car's maintenance and preservation is taken care of for the secondary automotive market. Many drivers don't realize that paint protection film is something that automotive accessory shops can offer their customers, and that ignorance can end up costing customers when it comes time to sell or trade in their car. The world is a scary place for a brand-new car; with all the flying rocks, errant shopping carts, door-slamming passengers and unexpected hail storms, a car's paint job has to survive a lot. And paint can be surprisingly delicate, especially if it is routinely exposed to high heat or sunlight which softens it. Damage to your car's paint job is not easily fixed without repainting the entire car, and color-matching to patch up a small area is nearly i ... read more

In the heat of summer, we’re sure you remembered basic vehicle maintenance tips for helping your car deal with sunlight and increasing temperatures. The rising mercury level in your thermometer isn’t the only thing that makes summer so hard on your vehicle. Summer weather brings extreme temperatures and heavy thunderstorms, which can lead to unique hazards. Here’s a list of things you might have forgotten in preparing your vehicle for the summer conditions. Tires When the weather gets hotter, the air in your tires will expand, so the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure they are not over-inflated. You will also need to check your tires for cracks, low treads and other imperfections that could be dangerous in the long run. The heavy, sudden rains that can often happen in the summer can test your tires, and the worst time you want to discover your tires need to be r ... read more