Northwest, DocuLock continuing partnership that awards business franchise to student

Northwest Missouri State University and its Small Business Development Center are continuing their partnership with DocuLock LLC to offer a business opportunity to an entrepreneurial-minded student this spring.

DocuLock – a service-based business that specializes in document scanning, archiving, management, retention and shredding – formed a partnership with Northwest and its Small Business Development Center in 2022 to offer a franchise opportunity to one student enrolled in the University’s business strategy and decision-making course.

“The generous offer from DocuLock LLC provides our students an incredible opportunity to immediately become a business owner following graduation and start applying everything they have learned and experienced during their undergraduate program, to making their business a success with the support of Paul and his team,” Dr. Ben Blackford, the director of Northwest’s Melvin D. and Valorie G. Booth School of Business, said.

DocuLock owner Paul Janicek is again offering Northwest students an opportunity to take ownership of a franchise in his company. (Photo by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

All students under Blackford’s instruction in a capstone course, Strategy and Decision-Making, are eligible to participate in the rigorous competition.

The winning student receives no-cost assistance to launch a DocuLock franchise through the Small Business Development Center at Northwest and has the ability to choose their location, as long as it’s in a territory not already occupied by a DocuLock franchise.

This year, in addition to waiving its franchise fee of approximately $43,000, DocuLock will provide a scanner and laptop for the franchise recipient to use for their first six months in the business.

“This is such a generous, amazing gift and shows Paul’s confidence in his business model as well as his desire for the student to be successful from the very beginning,” Rebecca Lobina, the director of the SBDC at Northwest, said.

Last year, Cody Kliethermes seized the chance to own and operate a DocuLock franchise, which he established in O’Fallon, Missouri. In 2023, Spencer Engelman became the first Northwest student to be awarded a DocuLock franchise, and set up his business in Blue Springs, Missouri, for his location.

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