When Christian Saab founded CPG, an emerging recruiting franchise, he wanted to make the American dream of opening his own business a reality. And now, he wants to do the same for the brand’s franchisees. Two of those franchisees are Hammad and Farhin Rahman who own a CPG location in Houston, Texas.
After moving to the United States from India at a young age, the pair has been living in Houston for the past 27 years. For most of his career, Hammad has worked in the oil and gas industry, holding positions at BP and Marathon Oil, while Farhin has a background in human resources and recruiting. Although the couple were secure in their respective jobs, they had a dream of opening their own business and being their own bosses. When deciding it was time to pursue that, it was Farhin’s history in recruiting that led them to pursue a franchise in that industry.
“My wife knows recruiting centers inside and out,” said Hammad. “Her professional background was a huge reason we decided to look into this sector of franchising. And although I don't have experience in recruiting, I have experience when it comes to looking at a resume and knowing if someone is going to be a good fit for a position. So, combined, our professional backgrounds bring a lot to the table.”
Although CPG does not require a recruiting background for its franchisees, the industry knowledge that comes along with it is certainly a plus. The couple had previously consulted with a CPG competitor, but after speaking with Saab and learning the specifics of how the business model works, the couple was sold. “He was flexible with us and explained how he would help us grow our business,” said Hammad.
CPG’s franchise model stands out as an investment in several ways. “We have a very similar franchise fee to competitors, $40,000 to $60,000, but most other recruiting concepts have a temporary firm contract staffing model, which brings along a lot of risk,” says Saab. “This is where a candidate is technically hired by the staffing company and is contracted out to an organization. That means the owner has to front the payroll, which can add up quickly with a lot of employees. CPG uses a direct placement model. I simply introduce the employee, and the client hires them. After one month of work, we get a one-time check.”
Additionally, CPG keeps start-up costs low because franchisees aren't required to open an office or hire a huge team. The total initial investment necessary to start a CPG franchise ranges from $50,000-$75,000, including a $50,000 franchise fee. This simplified and flexible model also helps owners achieve profitability faster.
Hammad noted that the couple has also been impressed with the support they’ve been receiving from the team at CPG. “The training process, which we’ve been going through recently, is thorough and includes a lot of great material.”
Support from corporate doesn’t stop at training. The company spends hours each week with every location to help them on a case-by-case basis, every step of the way. The first three months are the most critical, Saab noted. During this time, franchisees will learn the language of the business, operating procedures, customer satisfaction – and more. They will also familiarize with the brand’s CRM lead generator tool, Diva, as well as cloud-based operating procedures, billing and client agreements.
“With us, franchisees are joining a smaller, family-oriented franchise,” said Saab. “We give flexibility for you to build a business around your lifestyle. You are not territory driven and you will not have a bunch of overhead right at the start.”
The Rahmans remain focused on getting their first location going but see plenty of potential to grow with the brand within Texas. “Texas is a business friendly state,” said Hammad. “Their laws and their regulations are business friendly. Austin, San Antonio and Dallas are all big financial centers. It’s a very powerful center in the south and there is a lot of hiring going on all the time.”
Looking ahead, CPG hopes to have 20 units sold by the end of 2023, with a long-term goal of one day having over 1,000 locations.
“What we are selling here is really our team,” Saab said. “We are here to make you feel not alone and give you clarity on how to build a business that matches your lifestyle. It all comes back to what you want and how you want to live. We are selling freedom — CPG is a tool to make you money at the end of the day.”