The Dollars and Sense of Owning A Cohen’s Franchise
We look forward to meeting you and discussing all the beneficial aspects of becoming a Cohen’s Franchise owner/operator. Until then, we invite you to review some of the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding our franchise opportunities.
Q. Is it necessary to have optical industry experience to become a Cohen’s franchise owner/operator?
A. No. While many of our franchise owners are trained eyecare professionals, there are many astute business people without optical experience who are extremely successful Cohen’s franchisees.
Q. Does Cohen’s offer a choice of franchise opportunities?
A. Yes. There are three franchise options available to qualified individuals:
- Franchising an existing location
- Franchising a new location
- Conversion of your present location into a Cohen’s franchise
Q. When buying a Cohen’s Franchise, what am I actually buying?
A. Cohen’s franchisees purchase the right to operate a Cohen’s Fashion Optical store and the licensing rights to identify their business under the Cohen’s Fashion Optical 80 year-old trademark.
Q. Why should I invest in a Cohen’s franchise as opposed to opening my own optical store, buying an independent eyecare operation, or another optical franchise?
A. There are many reasons for investing in a Cohen’s franchise. Five of the most important are:
- The “brand value” of the Cohen’s name: Over the past 80 years, Cohen’s has sold eyewear products and eyecare services to millions of patients. The name Cohen’s has become synonymous with quality eyecare and eyewear. You will benefit from this instant brand recognition.
- Experienced Management, Training and Marketing: As the market leader we know the building blocks of sustained growth and continued success…and provide you with these valuable tools. You will be assigned a professional training team who will guide you and your staff through every aspect of opening, building and maintaining your successful optical business. As a Cohen’s Franchisee, you will benefit from all our proven programs and systems, including:
- Branding and marketing programs
- Local market advertising and in-store POS materials
- Internal management systems
- Managed care patient acquisition
- Internet marketing for patient acquisition
- Vendor partnerships/volume discounts
- Product merchandising program
- Visual merchandising display program
- Sales and product training
- HIPAA compliance procedures and literature
- Location: Through years of demographic and market tracking studies, our real estate department is able to determine optimum locations for our retail sites. Also, we have built long-standing relationships with leading malls and real-estate developers, allowing us to obtain prime locations for our franchisees.
- Product Selection: Unlike other optical chains, Cohen’s does not require that you buy your eyewear products through them. With guidance from your training team, you will buy directly from vendors of your choice, while benefiting from the Cohen’s excellent volume discounts. Since you buy directly, there are never any vertical mark-ups from the Franchisor.
- Independence and Affiliation: Remember, with a Cohen’s franchise, You’re in business for yourself, never by yourself. This gives you the best of “both worlds.” As a franchisee, you will enjoy the benefits of entrepreneurship as an independent business person as well as continuous support through your affiliation with the leading optical retailer…Cohen’s Fashion Optical. With Cohen’s, you experience a true turnkey operation.
Q. What is my investment for a Cohen’s franchise?
A. Upon signing the franchise agreement, the initial franchise fee for a single unit is $10,000 with an on-going 10% monthly royalty of gross revenues. The cost of inventory, signage, leasehold improvements and other variable business investments will depend on your location and whether you choose to invest in an existing or new location or conversion of your present site. Total costs will vary.
Q. Does Cohen’s provide financing assistance?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the term of a Cohen’s franchise agreement?
A. The initial franchise agreement is for a period of ten years and is renewable.
Q. What is the franchise’s advertising commitment?
A. A 4% contribution of monthly gross revenues.
Q. How do I begin the process of becoming a Cohen’s franchise owner/operator?
A. We are delighted that you are interested in investing in a Cohen’s Fashion Optical franchise. We invite you to complete the Franchise Opportunity Request Form and submit it to us. We will contact you to discuss any opportunities with Cohen’s.
