Of the business opportunities available, L&W Investigations offers what may be the most exciting of all. This franchise business offers franchisees the chance to be a private investigator.
The PI Stereotype
Of course, to really get the proper picture of L&W Investigations, there needs to be some clarity on the business of investigation. Most people are familiar with the Hollywood representation of private investigation: the irreverent, shadowy PI sitting at his desk, taking yet another swig from his hip flask as an alarmingly beautiful woman slips in through the door of his office to beg his assistance in finding her kidnapped father. The characters and the scene are something of an American icon, and maybe it's an accurate representation of the life of some private investigators, but it certainly isn't a depiction that's universally true.
In fact, much of the investigative world of today is nothing like all that. Rather, investigators are professionals who have learned how to collect, interpret, and pass along information pertinent to an assignment, and generally, because investigations are needed in so many fields, they only accept certain varieties of cases dealing in an area of specialty. In the case of L&W Investigations, franchisees concentrate on surveillance and cases of insurance fraud, and they don't even do the vast majority of the investigation themselves. Instead, franchisees serve as business owners and managers over a staff of far more highly trained investigators.
Training
Because the home business franchisee is responsible primarily for business oversight, there is no need to come into the operation with previous investigative experience. Whatever prior business experience the franchisee may have is harnessed by a team of professional trainers and rechanneled toward the desired business objectives.
The heart of the L&W Investigations training program is in the hands of training manager Ed Fidler and trainer Chris Cline. Fidler comes to the organization with years of experience as an investigator for the Boston District Attorney and is a highly respected member of the SIU community. Cline served as a Kentucky state trooper, was promoted to detective as a part of the Warren County Drug Task Force, and has professional experience in a wide array of investigative fields. Together, they are more than capable of training new franchise owners and their employed investigators, making them some of the best in their specific industry.
Business Operation
This business opportunity depends heavily on the success of the central organization. They are the ones responsible for the vast majority of marketing: giving the L&W Investigations name a strong presence at 35 national trade shows, maintaining public relations, running ads in industry-related publications, and maintaining the company website. And, though the intent is to help those who need it, L&W Investigations does receive recognition for being active in such charitable events as the annual "Taste of the NFL" and the Special Olympics.
The involvement of the central establishment in the success of each home based business doesn't end with marketing, though. Once the various avenues of advertising make their impact and draw potential clients, the central staff continues working, taking investigation requests made via phone and internet and passing them on to the franchisee in the protected territory nearest to the client. And throughout the processes of serving clients, franchisees have 24/7 access to help from central staff, as well as ongoing training to keep them abreast of the latest developments, tricks, and tactics in the industry.
For the franchisee, the business is simple and consistent. The work from home franchisee is responsible for managing his investigators and their assignments, enhancing the local marketing strategy, and consistently growing the business. As jobs come in from L&W Investigations headquarters, they are handed to employed investigators, who perform investigations on behalf of insurance companies and legal organizations interested in proving the truth or falsehood of an insurance claim.
Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the work is the ITrac case management system used by the organization. Designed to streamline every part of the investigation process, from payroll to final reporting, it takes the administrative weight out of the business so that franchisees and their staffs can focus on investigation. The ITrac system helps clients by managing accounts and keeping record of investigation instructions, it helps cases by keeping track of important contacts and sorting all found information from data to videos, and it helps franchisees by keeping track of employee hours and wages and producing assignment sheets. Though it lacks the common sense and intuition necessary for good detective work, it is one of the most important aspects of operating this business successfully.
The Founder
Often, one of the key factors in the determining the success of any business for sale is who started it: where his heart is and what his goals are. In the case of L&W Investigations, the founder, Neal Lyons, is a man whose business and vision can be trusted. As business knowhow and drive go, there is no one better to follow. As an executive with Vans for years, he was responsible for revolutionizing the brand and its presence in the retail market by making a line of combination apparel stores/skate parks across the nation. He's worked for other names like Reebok and Footlocker and has always been a positive presence wherever he's gone.
Whether it's in business or while working with Children's Hospitals or the Special Olympics, Mr. Lyons has always had the intent of making a business or charity all it can be by whatever means possible. And this dedication primarily to people is what makes him and his business a worthy investment. It may not have the glamour of a 1950's film noir crime flick, but L&W Investigations is a business to keep an eye on.
Find more home based businesses including computer and internet franchises and vending machine distributorships at Home Based Business Opportunities.
No comments:
Post a Comment