Helios for FRANCHISE help!

[IslandSunCompany@aol.com]

Hello, I am using Helios 8. I am ready to franchise my salon. I have been told it can be very expensive to link my franchises together using Helios software. All I want to do is allow my franchises to share visits and pull up reports. I was told you have to use a sub-company over the internet who charges a transaction or monthly fee and a start up fee. Is this true? Now that ETS owns Helios will this change? Companies like Breeze 2000 and SunTouch do not have this ongoing charge. There is even a new online service that does the linking for you free (charges 12 cents per appointments made on line). I am ready to change to another software company. If anyone can help me before I do please email me:IslandSunCompany@aol.comnull

[Andy]

Hi IslandSunCompany:SolarSoft has a product, "SalonNet" that sits on top of Helios 9 that allows for the exchange of Client and Transaction information between salons. The product actually does much more that we would be pleased to share with you.There is an initial investment for the product and an ongoing monthly fee, related to support. Neither of these fees are transactional in nature.You maintain the data within your systems "NOT" on an outside "service provider".If you would like more information or wish to discuss SalonNet further please email me directly and I will have one of our associates contact you.

[IslandSunCompany@aol.com]

Hello Andy, Yes, this SolarSoft company was the one I was told about. Other tanning software companies like Breeze 2000 and SunTouch Plus have no secondary software companies or montly user fees at all unless you want ongoing tech support. You pay for the software and you are done. All you need to share data from one salon to another is a cable or DSL modem. It is done in real time I was told with Helios I would need to pay to restart the monthly tech support to upgrade. I would now need to pay the monthly fee for that tech support. Then I would have to pay $1,500 for each location for the software from SolarSoft and I think it was a $499 a month to Solar Soft per location for the connection to my franchise salons. On top of all of that I would still have my business internet fees. I was told that they justify this by telling you to increase your prices. In todays tough franchise market it is hard to increase your prices. Please advise me of the truth in all of this. Plus can you give me a complete breakdown of the cost associated in upgrading my Helios 8, service plan and linking my franchises together? I want to keep my Helios but the other companies will convert my data and have my locations up and running with no ongoing monthly fees to a secondary company. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

[Andy]

Dear IslandSunCompany:First let me clarify, my company ACT Business Solutions Markets, Installs, Trains and Supports the SolarSoft SalonNet product.Your facts are not correct regarding pricing or the recommendation to increase prices.The SalonNet product offers you the most assured means of data exchange in the Tanning Industry.I would be very pleased to discuss your needs with you and find if SalonNet would be desirable within your growing business.You would most certainly need to update to the current supported version of Helios. Assuming you are opening new locations within your franchise operation, these new locations would be using Helios V9, assuming you decide to stay with Helios.Again, please email me directly with contact information if you wish to review the SalonNet option in more detail. andy@atso.ca[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca ]

[Mike]

Not one to give away secrets, but......While in theory it sounds really good to link stores together. In a franchise environment it gets to be a little touchy.If salon A and Salon B have different owners, but both franchised, and connected. With Most, if not all of the current software available. It allows Store A to see Store B's sales and vice/versa.Now unless you like to have franchisee's *****ing at you because that store is doing better than we are, and it's all your fault !!!Either look long and hard at what you want to accomplish or wait until real software becomes available

[IslandSunCompany@aol.com]

Thank you Mike. What I want to do is allow all locations to use visits purchased at any location for more customer flexability. I want to see what the franchise is doing so I know how much they owe in franchise fees. Also, I want cut off a franchise that is breaking the rules or not paying. I will have master controls to see what they are doing but they will only be able to get visit information from my computer.There are systems out there that do this. I want to see if Helios can do it without a large expense. I also need to make sure it is done in real time.