Business Description

AIM Mail Centers, based in Irvine, California, has developed a unique and AIM-azing opportunity designed especially for motivated professionals. AIM Mail Centers are complete postal and business service centers, offering a wide array of products and services to small business and the general customer. This includes shipping services with UPS, FEDEx and the US Postal Service. We provide packaging, stamps, faxing, notary, mailbox rentals, photocopies, office supplies and much much more. INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITY: The homebased business market is growing at a remarkable rate. Growing from a base of 6 million home offices in 1980, more than one in four U.S. workers in 28 million households is now regularly working at home at least part of the week. For the past five years at a rate of one every 35 seconds, someone has begun a full or part time business in their home. With this, as well as residential and business customers, the demand for postal and business services continues to boom.

Franchisor Background

Year Established:  1985

Franchising Since:  1989

Operating Units:
Franchised Units:	85	100%
Company-Owned Units:	0	0%
Total Operating Units:	85	100.0%
Minority Representation Units Owned by Minorities: African-American: 2 Asian-American: 8 Hispanic: 2 Native American: 0 Other: 0 Specific Minority   Program(s) in place: Although we strongly support the objectives of the NMFI, we do not yet have any specific programs in place at this time.
Geographic Distribution: U.S.: 85 100% In 22 States Canada: 0 0% In 0 Canadian Provinces International: 0 0% In 0 Foreign Countries   Total: 85 100.0%

North America:
States/Provinces with the largest number of operating units:

Density

Units

Registered in Following Registration States: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Financial Requirements

Investment:
Minimum Net Worth:	$250K+
Cash Investment:	$5K
Total Investment:	$134-215K
Average Total Investment:	$175K
Fees:
Initial Franchise Fee:	$26.9K
Average Franchise Fee:	$27K
On-Going Royalty:	5%
Average Royalty:	5%
Advertising Fee:	2%

Average Number of Employees: 1 Full-time, 2 Part-time

Space Needs (in square footage): 800-1,200

Preferred Sites: Strip Center

Other Sites:

Encourage Conversions? Yes

Earnings Claims Provided?: Yes

Franchisee Qualifications
Ranked from 1 (unimportant) to 5 (important):
Financial Net Worth:	5
General Business Experience:	1
Specific Industry Experience:	1
Formal Education:	3
Psychological Profile:	5
Personal Interview(s):	5
Terms of Contract
Term of Initial Contract:	15 Year(s)
Term of Renewal Period:	5 Year(s)
Passive Ownership:	Allowed, But Discouraged
Area Development Agreements?	No
Sub-Franchising Contracts?	No
Franchisees Allowed to Expand Within Territory?	Yes
Support and Training
International Franchise Association:	Yes
Canadian Franchise Association:	No
Franchisee Association/Member:	Yes, Member
Size of Corporate Staff:	14
Site Selection Assistance?	Yes
Lease Negotiation Assistance?	Yes
Financial Assistance?	Yes, Indirect
Marketing Support:
Co-Op Advertising:	Yes
National Advertising:	No
Regional Advertising:	No
Local Advertising:	No
Marketing Materials:	None Specified
Additional Services:	None Specified
Other Marketing Support:	None Specified
On-Going Support:
Central Data Processing:	Not Applicable
Central Purchasing:	Not Applicable
Field Operation Evaluation:	Included in Fees
Field Training:	Included in Fees
Initial Store Opening:	Included in Fees
Inventory Control:	Included in Fees
Franchisee Newsletter:	Included in Fees
Regional or National Meetings:	Included in Fees
800 Telephone Hotline:	Included in Fees
Training:
1. AIM National Support Center - Irvine, CA	2 Weeks
2. In Store	5 Days
3. 24 hour phone support/Store Visits
Expansion Plans
Projected New Units Over Next 12 months: 15 U.S.: Yes, All United States Canada: No Overseas: No	Request Franchisor Info   Submit an online form to receive information from AIM Mail Centers.