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Often called the heart of the American economy, small and medium businesses create the majority of new jobs and provide a variety of much-needed products and services. An important part of this fast-growing market sector are the thousands of independent business owners who operate one or many franchises—offering everything from fuel and pizza to dry cleaning, clothing, and numerous other products and services to communities across the country.
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Despite the differences in what they sell, franchises face many of the same challenges, such as the need for fast and secure credit card processing, reliable high-speed Internet access, brand conformity, and efficient payroll systems. Without these key business functions, both the franchisor, also known as the brand, and the franchisee would have difficulty making this unique business model work.
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Enter HughesNet® Franchise Network Services. Based on the HughesNet Managed Services offering, this comprehensive program helps franchisors and franchisees alike to meet those challenges head on. The brand can effectively outsource the IT challenges of managing several different franchise networks into a single network infrastructure, supplied and managed by Hughes. Meanwhile, the franchisee can access brand-endorsed broadband connectivity designed expressly for its unique business needs.
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“Brand integrity, network uniformity, and transaction security are critical to the franchise brand,” said Douglas Medina, senior director of marketing at Hughes. “HughesNet Franchise Network Services provides every franchisee a uniform broadband network solution that’s easy to purchase and deploy, and also helps them meet PCI compliance and bandwidth requirements.”
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A Packaged Solution
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Based on the needs of the brand, HughesNet Managed Services delivers an off-the-shelf, packaged solution that may include any of the following—broadband satellite, DSL, cable, and 3G wireless. The solution can provide private network connectivity, Internet access, or both—enabling the brand to maintain a private, secure network, as well as providing Internet access to its franchisees
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A major oil company, for example, is providing more than 900 of its marketers, who represent over 6,500 gas stations, a HughesNet Managed Service under its own brand. The solution offers a choice of either DSL or satellite broadband connectivity, provides PCI-compliant broadband networking for credit transactions, and has the flexibility to handle various IP-based business applications, including tank monitoring, back office, and onsite car washes.
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Similarly, quick-service restaurant and convenience store franchises use HughesNet Managed Services for secure credit and debit card transactions, time and attendance systems, payroll, supplier communications, inventory management, Internet access, and point-of-sale applications.
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Security and Conformity for the Franchisor
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HughesNet Franchise Network Services makes it easy for brands to offer a uniform, packaged service to their franchisees. Other benefits include 24/7 maintenance, proactive monitoring, program management, and customer support. Hughes can also help the brand coordinate franchisee marketing and outreach.
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Keeping Life Simple for the Franchisee
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For the franchisee, corporate endorsement of the program means cost savings, simplified ordering and provisioning, and better support. The franchisee can work directly with Hughes for sales, support, billing, and fulfillment. “Hughes recognizes that franchisees are small businesses, and we’ve developed solutions that address their unique needs,” said Carl Udler, senior director of franchise sales for Hughes. Plus, with standard contract terms, the franchisee can purchase via credit card or be invoiced through an easy ordering process.
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Grounded in the Business
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With more than 20 years experience selling to retail, restaurant, and hospitality sectors, Hughes thoroughly understands the franchise business as well as the unique business relationship between franchisor and franchisee. In addition, Hughes has the flexibility to adapt to the many variables among brands.
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Having HughesNet Franchise Network Services on board means both franchisors and franchisees can be confident that their networks are in good hands, enabling them to stay firmly focused on the bigger picture—running their businesses.
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