Showhomes Home Staging Makes Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 List

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With six years of double digit growth, Showhomes home staging ranked 214th in Entrepreneur Magazine's popular list of the top 500 franchise companies for 2011.

The magazine ranked the home staging franchise in the top 50 low-investment businesses, in the top 100 fastest growing franchise systems and in the top 100 home-based businesses.

Entrepreneur magazine has been evaluating the top 500 franchise companies for 31 years and examines important criteria such as financial strength and stability, growth rate and system size to determine rankings. The list is highly competitive and dominated by large, well known franchise brands. This is Showhomes' fist ranking on the annual list.

"We are well positioned to be a top player in real estate-related franchising, and for good reason," said Matt Kelton, Showhomes' COO. "We have low entry level costs; we are a home-based business; we are in a hot category of small business and we have a very high potential return on investment."

Showhomes has gained national media attention for its "home staging with a twist" business model. Focusing on vacant houses, franchisees recruit and train live-in Home Managers to stage and maintain the home while it is on the market and for sale. The service is popular with home owners and Realtors because it lowers insurance costs, creates a model-home atmosphere and makes a vacant house easier to sale.

"I'm not surprised by Showhomes' ranking," says Joe Mathews, franchising expert and author of the top-selling book, Street Smart Franchising. "This is a franchise that 'gets it,' meaning they concern themselves with the sales, profitability and relationships with their franchisees."

Amy Cosper, VP and editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur, called the 2011 Franchise 500 "a must-see list for anyone searching for the right business."

About Showhomes

Since its founding in 1986, Showhomes has helped Realtors and home owners sell more than 26,000 homes worth more than $8.5 billion. The Showhomes business model is based on the fact that staged and occupied homes kept in show-to-sell condition sell faster, and for higher prices, than vacant houses. For information and franchise opportunities, please visit www.showhomesfranchise.com.

SOURCE Showhomes Home Staging