FAQ

What is SightMind?

SightMind businesses design, sell, install and maintain digital video surveillance systems for medium-sized and large customers in education, local government, and industry.

These systems help provide security for people and assets, lower operating costs, improve customer service, and lower employee turnover.

Tell me about the franchise.

SightMind offers you the chance to operate a business that sells, configures, installs and maintains digital video surveillance and related security systems that monitor, record and analyze activity in customers' facilities and public areas.

Why is growth so important?

A rising tide raises all ships. A Frost and Sullivan report available from SightMind shows 44% annual growth in networked video (IPVS) systems. High growth markets provide an environment where individual businesses can thrive. High growth markets provide better margins and profits than stagnant industries. In a growing market it is not necessary to displace existing vendors in order to grow your business. High growth markets attract the most new technology and the best people.

Support

SightMind provides our franchisees with exceptional support in both sales and technology. We provide comprehensive training, approved equipment, extensive tools, regular emails forboth you and your customers, powerful marketing material, a customized web site, and unlimited, personal support.

How much training do I get?

SightMind provides two solid weeks of training for you and all your key employees. We have different tracks for technology people and sales people. During training, you will take regular tests. At the conclusion of training, you and your employees are issued meaningful certificates that provide you with a competitive edge.

Do I basically do sales?

No. You will educate your professional customers so they become comfortable with the technology and fully understand the benefits to their organization. You will guide your institutional, government and commercial customers down a path to assured success and satisfaction. You will conduct a detailed site survey, design a technical system, purchase components, install them, train the customer, and maintain the system.

However, sales skills-people skills-a critical part of the SightMind business. If you are good in sales, SightMind may be an outstanding opportunity for you to take the next step in your professional career.

What do you, at Corporate, do?

You, the franchisee, perform all of the "customer facing" activities, such as site surveys and installation.

We, the franchisor, perform all of the activities that can be centralized for efficiency, such as R&D, training, equipment approval, web site maintenance, tool creation and updates, software, tech support, marketing, branding, and national lead generation.

This structural organization is fundamental to the efficiency and success of all franchising, and is a reason that franchising in the US today holds 41% (and growing) of all retail purchases.

This distributed responsibility is outstandingly well suited to IPVS systems, where network monitoring, updates, re-configuration, and troubleshooting can usually be done remotely.

Do I need technical skill?

Either you or one of your key employees should love technology. No engineering degree is required, as our tools provide you with all the correct questions to ask, then select the correct equipment and configuration for you.

Our highly focused technical training, comprehensive equipment review, and extensive support allows technically minded individuals to do the work that previously required a network engineer.

Your SightMind business must have one person with proven people skills and one person who loves computers or IT in order to open your doors. Either one of you, or both of you, may be the owner of the business.

I am a technical person. What about sales?

Unlike most franchises, we encourage technical people to become business owners. Only a few lucky souls are great at both sales and technology. Unless you are one of these, you will want to hire someone who has excellent people skills to work in the field with the professionals who will be your customers. We can help you interview and select, if you would like this assistance.

On the other hand, if you love working with people you will need to hire a geek. Community colleges across the country are turning out well-trained network associates by the thousands. Many fabulous technical people are self-trained. We can help you interview and select, if you would like this assistance.

Who are SightMind Customers?

SightMind targets customers in what we call the "middle 80%" of IPVS system buyers: these are organizations in education (including high schools and colleges), local and state government (such as pubic works, police, water, and transportation), and large industrial and commercial customers (such as warehousing, manufacturing, parking, and office buildings).

These customers demand knowledgeable installers and appreciate the advantages SightMind offers, such as a 5-year nationally backed warranty, open-standards technology (to preserve their investment), professional project management, and a low-risk, education-based sales process.

How much does the business cost?

The estimated initial investment range for a startup SightMind franchise is $210,395 to $374,800. This includes a $60,000 initial franchise fee, which covers the training for your first two employees.

How much is the royalty?

The continuing services, or "royalty fee," is 8% of your gross sales. Please request more information (link) to obtain a comprehensive list of the services we provideand details about fees.

Do you have special programs for veterans?

Yes. We are a member of the IFA's VetFran program. Please contact SightMind (link) for details about this program.

SightMind is one of the very few franchises that have structural (ongoing business) advantages to veteran owners. For example, some of our customers provide a bidding advantage to businesses owned by veterans, which can make you more competitive than competing businesses.

We particularly encourage retiring military officers to consider owning a SightMind franchise as a second career. Many customers appreciate buying a local security system from someone who has first-hand experience in national security.

In addition, the Small Business Administration has franchise financing programs just for veterans.

What advantages do you have over other types of franchises?

SightMind customers are professionals. Many times your customer will be the IT director for a large organization. In other cases he or she will be a senior manager. Your customers work 8 to 5, five days a week.

Although we encourage our franchisees to work hard, once you are established you should be able to maintain a regular 40-hour office schedule for you and your full-time employees.

You will hire and supervise professionals, not kids. Most of your employees will be full-time.

What is unique about SightMind?

SightMind not only encourages, but we require all franchisees to participate in their local community.

SightMind business owners love being part of their community, supporting events, and meeting other like-minded people.

SightMind IPVS systems protect the people we love and the assets we have worked hard to build. Helping your local community to thrive is what we are about.

The technology side of the business sounds complicated. How can I be assured the systems I install work properly?

SightMind is so confident of the technology we select and our training that we offer an impressive promise to every franchise owner:

"Every system you install works properly or we fix it for free."

This promise is in writing in your Franchise Agreement. Please refer to that agreement for details.

Are you the only franchise in this fast-growing space?

SightMind is the only franchise system dedicated to IPVS systems.

With us, you have a ground-floor opportunity in an exceptionally fast growing market.

What does your tag line, "More Knowledge. More Security," mean?

For customers, it means that we have an education-based sales process. The more they know about the options available, and the more you know about their specific needs, the more effective will be the installed system.

For franchise buyers like you, it means that our approach to granting franchises is based on providing your with the maximum amount of knowledge about us, our technology, our system, the market and your customers.

This Knowledge provides you with Security not only in your choice of which business to buy, but also Security in the financial future of you and your family.

What do I do to move forward? How do I get more information?

Please use our rapid request form to request more information. A franchise consultant from SightMind will then promptly contact you. Or, phone us toll free at (877) 478-7988.

Or learn more about what we do, how we do it, and how we differentiate ourselves by taking a tour.