March 15, 2023

Northwest, DocuLock continuing student franchise opportunity

Northwest Missouri State University and its Small Business Development Center will continue their partnership with DocuLock LLC to offer a business opportunity to an entrepreneurial-minded student each semester.

DocuLock LLC, a service-based business specializing in digitizing and preserving documents, will donate a franchise to one graduating student enrolled in Northwest’s strategy and decision-making course. Students may opt-in to the competition, and candidates will be evaluated based on criteria identified by DocuLock. The franchisee will be announced at the end of the semester.

“It’s a great opportunity for students as they’re considering what they will do after they graduate,” Dr. Ben Blackford, the director of Northwest’s Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business, said. “It just gives them another viable option that may be of interest to them to help them be successful once they finish their time at Northwest.”

DocuLock owner Paul Janicek visited students Wednesday in Northwest's strategy and decision-making course to discuss with them an opportunity to take ownership of a DocuLock franchise. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

The $43,500 franchise fee will be waived for the student franchisee. The student also will be allowed to choose any location for their new start-up, provided the franchise territory is available. Further, the student will receive no-cost assistance to start their business through the Small Business Development Center.

“We want to give every opportunity and every chance we can to the up-and-coming leaders that we have through Northwest,” DocuLock owner Paul Janicek said. “Why we felt this was the best way to do that was really to make it into a competitive nature, to really show these young men and women what they’re capable of.”

Franchise owners have access to a format or system developed by the franchisor for a specific number of years and assistance. A franchise has an advantage of an already proven concept and footprint to follow, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Rebecca Lobina, the director of Northwest’s Small Business Development Center and director of continuing professional education, will work with each student franchisee to ensure they have the resources necessary to start their new start-up no matter where they plan to open their franchise.

For more information, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/services/sbdc/student-franchise.htm or contact Lobina at 816.364.4105 or lobina@nwmissouri.edu.