Georgia on my Mind

With a healthy median household income and a job growth rate that continues to rise, Georgia has become a prime destination for businesses. The proof is in the numbers –Georgia ranked No. 1 in Site Selection’s annual ranking of state business climates.

With the job growth rate at 2.6 percent and a median household income of nearly $49,000, the Peach State has enjoyed a comfortable outlook over the past year. The state’s unemployment rate hovered around the 10 percent mark throughout the early part of the decade, but that rate has recently dropped to 5.5 percent. All of these factors have contributed to Georgia being one of the top states for business in the country.

“Once again, Georgia has been named the top state in which to do business, reflecting our success in strengthening Georgia’s economic environment and creating a top-notch workforce,” Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said in a release from The Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Through collaborative public-private sector efforts, we have created hundreds of thousands of jobs for families, invested millions in our local communities and improved the overall quality of life for our citizens. This ranking is not only a testament to our strong business climate, but it also speaks to the commitment and support from our industry partners, communities and the people of Georgia.”

Georgia’s economic stability has benefited more than one type of business – it’s also one of the best states for franchising. Franchising creates more than 338,400 jobs and $28 million in economic output across more than 32,000 franchise locations, according to the International Franchise Association.

A number of franchises are headquartered in the state and are proud to call Georgia home, including Your Pie, Wing Zone, WORKOUT ANYTIME, JAN-PRO, Maid Right, and Zaxby’s. The state’s perfect economic climate has helped fuel these, and other brands’ success. Meanwhile, other brands like Toppers Pizza and Buffalo Wings & Rings and Fast-Fix are targeting Georgia to expand their footprint.

Scott Thompson, vice president of franchise development for Premium Franchise Brands, JAN-PRO and Maid Right’s parent company, which are all based in Alpharetta, Georgia said the state is a great location for brands to develop because it is not a franchise registration state—meaning the state does not require filing or registration to sell franchises in the state.

“Georgia presents a lot of opportunities for business development, as the state is constantly growing and there are a number of schools in the area, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University—all of which present the Georgia business world with a lot of talent,” Thompson said. “From a franchising perspective, Georgia is not a franchise registration state, which makes it easier for franchises to start up. The state is on the rise and we are proud to call it home.”

Nick Powills, CFE, founded No Limit Agency in 2008 and serves as Chief Brand Strategist for the Chicago-based firm. No Limit is a full-service communications agency that establishes and elevates brands by bridging Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, Digital, and a lot of creativity, to best strategize well-rounded and successful campaigns for 50+ global franchise brands. By presenting visionary ideas and building real relationships, No Limit is able to create effective media branding strategies to help companies grow. Nick currently leads a staff of writers, media strategists, designers, social media experts and digital producers in an office think-tank where brands are humanized for strong, compelling media stories. Prior to starting No Limit at the age of 27, Nick spent four years working at a franchise PR agency where he mastered the art of building rapport with media outlets and creating newsworthy pitches for earned media placements. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Drake University in Iowa.

Georgia on my Mind

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