Ken Purvis can spot a candidate for franchising a mile away.

They share certain key characteristics. They run small to mid-size businesses that are profitable.

These businesses are well-managed and unique.

Moreover, they are eager to expand but lack the time, funds and people to make it happen.

For these business leaders, a franchise plan represents a highly attractive option.

Ken's company, Retailink International Inc., helps such companies expand their horizons - and build their profit margins - by going the franchise route.

Just ask the proprietors of the health-food store for pets that is now going gangbusters as a chain of franchises. Or the owner of the mobile computer maintenance and repair business who travelled a similar road.

Both these ambitious business people benefited from the expert advice of Ken Purvis, a franchise lawyer and "coach" with decades of experience. Purvis has helped hundreds of companies explore the possibilities of this potentially lucrative and rewarding business strategy.

"My personal belief is that a good coach can work wonders," he explains. "I learned an awful lot about the entire industry during my years as a franchise lawyer.

In fact, I've been a franchisee myself and spent four years working in house with a successful Western Canadian franchisor."

Purvis is equally happy to help existing franchises solve their problems, developing specifically designed programs to generate increased sales, cut losses, improve franchise relationships and minimize legal exposure to lawsuits. But when it's time to help a new franchise get off the ground, Purvis adheres to a proven formula, helping each customer develop an effective business plan.

From that point forward, it's a three-pronged process.

* First step: Making arrangements for legal documentation, the franchise agreement and the disclosure agreement.

* Second step: Creation of operations, marketing and training manuals.

"Everything relating to the business must be documented, from unlocking the door in the morning to going to the bank at night," Purvis insists.

* Third step: Marketing the franchise. "We specify ways and means for this new franchise to compete against all the other franchises for sale and then to beat the competition," Purvis says. "This is extremely important.

I spend an awful lot of time on this aspect of the engagement."

Purvis places particular emphasis on the importance of creating franchises SAFELY, by the way.

"There can be legal pitfalls as we move down this road," he frankly warns. "To protect my clients, I work closely with them through the entire process."

In addition, Purvis personally sells the first three or four franchises on his client's behalf.

"By doing so, I actually train the person my customer selects to head up their franchise sales team," he says.

With offices in Calgary and Denver, Ken Purvis is thoroughly conversant with franchise law on both sides of the border.

Interested? There's much more to learn. So drop by the Retailink website (retailinkfranchise.com) and give Ken a toll-free call at 1-800-567-9389 or, in Calgary, 403-543-1044 or e-mail kjpinc@retailinkfranchise.com.