It may sound crazy to say that among the largest franchisees in Europe, one is a pet food franchise. This franchise is ranked with more famous international franchises like McDonald’s and Burger King. The franchise in question is the Freesnapf franchise, which is a German franchise that sells pet food. Many people do not consider pets as business opportunities, but if we go with the success of Freesnapf, many will realize that there is an untapped business niche.

In 1990, a young German entrepreneur named Torsten Toeller saw a business breakthrough that many missed or simply ignored when he opened the first Freesnapf pet store in the German city of Krefeld. It is believed that the founder was inspired by pet stores in the United States, but gave them a European twist. Over time, what many would have considered a bad risk, was working wonders in Germany.

Torsten was clear about his goals and did his best to achieve them. His vision was to have Freesnapf in every country in Europe. Two years after opening the first store, Torsten came up with the Freesnapf franchise stores that were growing like mushrooms in Germany and it was clear that the German market would not be enough to consume all that Freesnapf had to offer. Just seven years after its conception, the franchise opened its first store outside of Germany and the sky was the limit. Today the franchise has 1,098 stores throughout Europe. 769 of these are in the home country of Germany. The other run outside of Germany was distributed in 11 European countries. The franchise opened 33 new stores outside of Germany in the first half of 2010 alone.

Due to expansion outside of Germany, Freesnapf adopted various names to fit the specific. The chain is now known by different names depending on the country. The franchise is widely known as Maxi Zoo in many countries. However, in the Netherlands it is called Jumper and in Belgium it is known as Zoomart, a name carved into the Maxi Zoo. The stores in Hungry still bear the German name, Feesnapf.

Freesnapf has a wide range of pet suppliers. It sells food for cats, dogs, mice and horses. Although this may vary by individual store, stores also sell frozen pet food and food mixes based on the needs of the shopper or veterinarian. Many of the stores also carry pet toys and accessories, such as chains, shoes, and cages. They also stock pet solutions and pet medications for sick pets. Other subsidiary services include grooming for pets, such as dogs, cats, and horses, and veterinary surgeries. The chain has become a household name for pet owners and definitely a one stop shop for pet shopping. Now, many people refer to Freesnapf as a very successful company, something that is distinctively flourishing.

When looking to start any business, it’s important, particularly considering today’s market, that you look for specific ways to reduce, minimize, or reduce overhead and risk. Any business is going to have risks, but it is important to have a full understanding of the amount of investment, the initial cost and the “ROI” (Return on Investment).

Most people are not aware that 80% of ALL franchise efforts fail within the first two to five years, leaving huge debts in the offing for years to come.

One way and in my opinion the best way to reduce your overhead, start-up and investment costs is to take advantage of the new age of entrepreneurship and start a business from the comfort of your home. Opportunities have arisen in the online market that are creating millionaires every day. Learn more about the exciting opportunities associated with a profitable business model by visiting: http://whatsbetterthanafranchise.com.