Franchising Route Taking Epcon To 32 States in ‘06

bizjournals:

The growing tide of empty-nester adults buying condominiums has a Dublin builder continuing to expand its franchise network.
Epcon Communities signed up 27 additional franchisees in 2005, expanding the company into three states. Epcon hopes to enter at least five more states this year, which would extend its reach into 32 states.

P. Thomas Rothrauff, general manager of Epcon Communities Franchising Inc., said the company entered Colorado, New Mexico and Mississippi last year. He said he expects Epcon to sign franchises this year for projects in New Jersey, Connecticut, Nevada, Washington state and Arizona.

“We’ve really pushed to promote out West,” Rothrauff said. “It’s like any other franchise organization - you tend to start growing outside the hub.”

Epcon began developing its ranch-style condos in 1986 in Columbus. It now has projects in 27 states with the help of 126 franchise builders, who acquire architectural designs and development services in their agreements with the Ohio company.

Epcon, which began franchising units in 1995, has built more than 16,000 units through 2005.

Epcon recently stopped granting new franchises in Ohio because of the success, Rothrauff said. That decision followed the granting of franchises to Stoneworks Development Co. in Mount Vernon, Preferred Communities in Warren and Cook Road Partners in Mansfield.