The Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce wants to open doors to new franchise owners through a seminar at its upcoming Business and Lifestyles Expo.
The chamber recently released results from its Project Retail survey, which sought input about what types of retail stores and restaurants the chamber can attract to the area.
Missy Bonnot, the chamber's director of economic development, said the study also sought ways to encourage residents to shop at small businesses in Jefferson City.
Survey results found would-be business owners often overlook opening franchises, Bonnot said.
"We know there are people out there with the entrepreneurial spirit," she said. "You don't always have to start a business from the ground floor."
Sessions will be held each half-hour from 1-5:30 p.m. during the chamber's Business and Lifestyles Expo on Oct. 24 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. Representatives from Transworld, a firm that sells franchises, will be at the event to give a 15-minute presentation at each session. The last 15 minutes of each session will be devoted to answering attendees' questions, Bonnot said.
The survey found 73.8 percent of the 237 respondents had never considered owning a franchise. Bonnot said the chamber hopes the seminar will show residents franchise opportunities exist in industries like education, travel and entertainment. Opening franchises can be done for as little as $10,000 and be cheaper than opening other types of businesses, she said.
"I think a lot of people, when they think of franchises, think of restaurants," Bonnot said.
She said business owners can buy franchises in industries other than food, so the chamber wants to expose residents to franchises in other industries. Franchises are typically successful 60 percent of the time, Bonnot said, because a franchise's parent company shares the workload.
Results from the Project Retail survey show 43 percent of respondents shop for clothing outside of Jefferson City, 58 percent frequent restaurants outside of Jefferson City and 38 percent shop for furniture outside of Jefferson City.
Respondents said they would like to see grocer Trader Joe's, wholesale retailer Costco and bookseller Barnes & Noble, among some of the stores named. Olive Garden, HuHot Mongolian Grill and Cracker Barrel were among the top restaurants named by respondents.
About 49 percent of respondents said they leave Jefferson City specifically to shop. Bonnot said the chamber knows people will still shop online but want Jefferson City residents to consider shopping in Jefferson City first.
"We know that people buy from Amazon," she said. "But at least search in Jefferson City first."
Shaun Sappenfield, the chamber's existing business manager, chairs the "buy local" committee within Project Retail.
Sappenfield said a marketing campaign is being developed to encourage people to shop local. Residents can shop at chain stores or restaurants and still shop locally if they buy things in Jefferson City, he said.
"If you can purchase it here - small business, big business, whatever - the taxes stay in the community," Sappenfield said.