CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

To whom it may concern, With help of Adam Stein, and the Kensington Company, I recently purchased a premier Long Island Catering Hall, The Swan Club and its 7 acre property. I first made contact with Adam in early May of 2014, and it less than three months I became the proud owner of the Swan Club. Adam was the first person at Kensington that I made contact with, and he has been professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with from day one. Adam answered all of my questions regarding The Swan Club, coordinated a meeting with the sellers, came to my business late at night to iron out the details of my offer, and guided me through all obstacles that came up. From personal experience, I know that a multi million dollar deal of this magnitude, involving real estate, environmental issues, I know licenses, financing and so much more, can take those to a year to complete. It is no small accomplishment that we were able to close on this deal in under three months, and it would not have been possible without the help of Adam and the rest of the Kensington Company team. I continue to work with Adam and The Kensington Company, as I look for other business opportunities. Even if they do not have what I am looking for in their inventory, Adam will use his contacts and find something which fits my needs. I refer friends and family to Adam, and always hear great feedback from them as well. Before working with Adam and the Kensington Company, I had two very bad experiences with other brokerage firms. Adam and The Kensington Company have always provided the highest level of professional service with integrity, and I am happy to fully recommend the Kensington Company.

As you know I have been involved in several acquisitions in the restaurant industry. No acquisition is easy. I would like to thank you for your professionalism and diligence in completing the purchase of the Hooters restaurants and territory rights for Long Island. Without your assistance and ability to keep your focus on completing the transaction, this acquisition would not have come to fruition. You were able to accommodate the needs of both parties and help us structure the purchase so that it met the changing parameters of the deal. During this rather long process, we were able to rely on your integrity, business acumen, and understanding of the many personalities involved in this acquisition. Once again, I appreciate your help in making this a success. As I mentioned, the restaurants are doing extremely well and the future looks bright.

I wanted to reach to you and communicate the pleasure I had working with Ken Kendes during my vetting phase of Armonk Wine and Spirits. Even though he represented the seller's interest, he played both sides of the fence very well while trying to facilitate the deal. He answered all inquiries in a timely fashion, showed true professionalism. During the times that the seller was unable to produce the necessary documents in order for a bank to approve a loan, he would convey the urgency I had with the buyer and was a true buffer in the entire process. He understood at all times where I was coming from. You have a good one in Ken. I wish it would have worked out with Ken and I, but at the end, it was not in my best interest to move forward with the deal. Being in sales for over 15 years myself, it's rare when a potential client writes to the owner of the company, unsolicited, singing the praises of the representative. I wish it would happen more often, and perhaps in doing this, good karma will come my way. As for you Ken K, you know of my growth plans as time goes on. I hope we will cross paths again one way or another. Should I decide to sell on my new business venture, you will be the first person I will call. To continued success...

I just wanted to thank you for efforts during my purchase of Alini Magazines Services. Your professionalism was exemplary throughout. Your diligence and timeliness in answering my queries and finding satisfactory answers made the process go a smoothly as possible under the circumstances. All of these business-related accolades notwithstanding, I found it a pleasure to work with you on a personal basis. I also want to thank Darren, who exhibited similar qualities throughout the purchase process. The two of you make a great team, and one I would heartily recommend to anyone contemplating selling of buying a business. Good luck in the future and let's keep in touch. Now back to work as I try to keep up with all of these orders... Have a happy, successful, and meaningful New Year...

Joe, I just wanted to take the time to express how very thankful and appreciative I am for ALL your hard work and continued dedication in searching for a bagel shop that suites my needs. When I first met you I knew we'd hit it off well. You had told me a lot about yourself, including your high level of experience in the restaurant business. That alone made it easier for me to put my trust in your hands because I know you are very knowledgeable in this field and can relate and help with things I may be unsure of. I know you would NEVER lead me in the wrong direction which is why your guidance is exceptional. I know soon enough my phone will be ringing with an amazing business opportunity that is way too good to pass up and I'll have you to thank for that. I've known you for quite a while now and comes as no surprise that you are a remarkable person. I don't only see you as my business broker, but as my mentor and even more so, as my friend! Thank you so much for everything Joe, You're the best!

Joe, I want to thank you so much for your patience and eagerness to help. The knowledge and expertise you provided made our transaction so smooth. I would highly recommend your services to others and look forward to doing further business transactions with your help. Thanks again. Alfredo Vitolo—Ginos Port Washington, Ginos New Hyde Park, Ginos Great Neck, Ginos Manhasset, Trattoria 35 bell blvd, Da Nonna Rosa Park Slope.

It has been a couple of days after the closing and I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all your help. Since starting this process just over a year ago you and Kensington have been professional, thoughtful, resourceful and most importantly efficient. As a buyer who drilled a lot of dry holes and went on too many goose chases, with other less savvy brothers. I would like to acknowledge how helpful it was to be around real professionals. You and Kensington stand head and shoulders above the rest of the brokerage groups.

Joe Randazzo has been an important force in our expansion. Joe's guidance and knowledge of the Pizzeria and Restaurant market are invaluable and we have had an extremely positive experience working with him. He will continue to be our "go-to" broker for many years to come.

It is not often that I've taken the time to write a letter of recommendation. However, the experience I had with Albert Hakim and The Kensington Company was exceptional. We operated a family owned retail gift store for 38 years called PROTASS. I met Albert in April 2015. I had the confidence after our first get together that if there was a possibility of selling our business, Albert was going to help make it happen. First of all, Albert "talked the talk." Albert wanted to know everything about our business and he patiently and methodically delved into all the details, which enabled him to package and present our business in the most favorable manner. Albert is a seasoned businessperson, not a slick salesman looking for a quick buck. He was a realist...explaining that he had the confidence that our business was marketable however finding the right individual was not going to be quick nor easy. Through the marketing of The Kensington Kensington, a short 6 months later, he produced a potential buyer and 6 weeks after that, a closing at the attorney’s office! Once again Albert calmly and professionally guided the process to a successful sale. Through the entire process, communication with Albert was easy. Phone calls were always promptly returned. Actually, if a few days passed where I did not reach out to him, invariably I would receive an email or call just to update me on any progress, suggestions or ideas he had. Albert is a class act. I would highly recommend him to anyone who seriously wants to sell their business.

Before it all fades from memory, we want to express our sincere thanks for managing the sale of our network of Long Island Gymboree Play and Music centers. Despite enormous challenges, you showed dogged determination to get the deal done and at a fair price. You, Adam, Stuart, Albert and everyone else involve showed the utmost in professionalism and competence in all dealings throughout the process. For that we will always be grateful.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you (Stu) and Ken for your professionalism, expertise, knowledge and guidance in support of the sale of BounceU Farmingdale. After speaking with several potential brokers at the onset, I was confident after our very first meeting, as it was evident to me immediately, that the Kensington Company was the right option for this transaction. You were extremely knowledgeable and immediately understood the value of the business, while setting the appropriate expectations. I would like to further convey how much I appreciated your professionalism and your thoroughness throughout the entire process. Your expertise was instrumental in the oversight of the transaction while overcoming and mitigating any obstacle almost immediately. You did a commendable job vetting through all the potential buyers while keeping our confidentiality, and ensuring no impact. I further appreciated your flexibility with accommodating our schedules, including showing the facility at 7:00AM on the weekend. Your commitment and dedication to the sale of the business was evident with how prepared you were at every meeting, and how well you listened to everything we discussed. I was impressed with your ability to pitch and present the business to potential buyers just as if it were your own. Again, it was a pleasure working with you both and I look forward to the opportunity to work together in the future.

Please allow me the opportunity to express my thanks for your successful efforts in selling my company. Throughout the long process you demonstrated incredible perseverance, professionalism and discretion. I was initially not convinced that you, and anyone, would be able to keep the knowledge of the sale confidential for such a lengthy period of time but you managed to do just that. Even after vetting a long list of potential buyers, and finding the right buyer, the sale of my firm was kept from becoming public nature of our business. Your patience with my lack of knowledge of the selling process was extraordinary. You (Ken) and Stuart Levenberg took a great deal of time to answer all of my questions throughout the process and gave me a tremendous education in the process. You and Stuart also maintained a level of professionalism and were a very calming presence even when working with a couple of potential buyers that would strain the patience of a Job. Additionally, when the negotiations with the person that eventually purchased my firm became stressful, you and Stuart provided wise counsel that, in the end enabled the dialogue to continue until the agreement could be found. I sincerely appreciate all of your efforts and would be delighted to act as a reference on your behalf. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of any service to you.

In March of 2008, The Kensington Company handled the sale of my two pharmacies, Jolin Pharmacy, Inc & Lumit Pharmacy, Inc. Ken Stein of The Kensington Company handled all of the contract negotiations, inventory negotiations and all the landlord negotiations (dealing extremely well with the two different difficult landlords). He was very knowledgeable about the pharmacy industry and made an anxious time in my life go very smoothly. I highly recommend the Kensington Company to represent any buyer or seller for any pharmacy sales.  

I would like to take this opportunity to write about my extremely positive experience with the Kensington Company in their handling of the recent sale of my Company, Newton's Naturals. We are a Manufacturer and Distributor of Gourmet Dried Fruits, Premium Nuts, Specialty Snack Mixes & Candy based in Freeport, NY. I had real concerns about the process of selling my company, whether it could even be sold without interrupting operations as well as concerns related to finding the right people to sell to. I met with Albert to discuss the process of selling my company and was immediately struck by his genuine concern for my situation, his professionalism and experience and his quick grasp of the nuances of my business. He put me at ease and explained exactly how he would guide the process to a successful conclusion. After I entrusted Albert and Kensignton Company with the listing of my Company I then experienced what really makes this group special. In a very short time they brought many potential buyers and every one of them was vetted and qualified to buy business. They handled all of the buyers requests for information and subsequent offers with professionalism and efficiency. In the end they found for my company a buyer with synergistic interests which made perfect sense for both. Even when the transaction became complicated Albert guided the process to a successful close. I would highly recommend Albert Hakim and The Kensington Company to any business owner considering a sale

I want you to be the first person that I thank for helping us sell our business, Banks Sails USA, to the industry leader North Sails. As you know we had the Closing today and everything worked out great and according to our expectations. You will recall that we became engaged in negotiations with North Sails before you became involved. As soon as North Sails made a serious offer we contacted you to help us through the complex issues associated with selling our business. In the case of Banks Sails there were several groups that we had to consider, including employees, Shareholders, licenses (six around the USA), the licensor (in England), and of course the purchaser, North Sails. Your advice was instrumental in our being able to satisfy this diverse group of individuals and companies. Upon meeting with you we quickly realized that we had made some mistakes in our negotiation process and you made us keenly aware of these issues. At our first comprehensive meeting you presented a very thoughtful, thorough and accurate analysis of what the offer really meant to Banks Sails. It was during this meeting that my associates who were initially quite skeptical began to understand the importance of the transaction. Transaction is a word you used over and over with me. You stated that you were "transaction oriented". In other words you made it clear that your purpose was to insure a fair transaction was accomplished. As we worked through the issues and mountains of paperwork you kept your focus on making the transaction happen. Your determination to Close a fair and successful transaction was one of the key ingredients to our accomplishing the deal. Ken I have to say that I am not at all sure we would have been able to complete this transaction without your help. As you know we are now in discussions with some of the associates you suggested, and they are helping us to meet our ongoing finance needs. Please accept this letter as an expression of my sincere appreciation for your help with the sale of our business and as a testimonial to your excellent services that you may use with any future clients looking for a recommendations to Ken Stein and The Kensington Company. Please do not hesitate to have your prospects call me at 203-866-3674 with any questions or comments.

It is my pleasure to recommend The Kensington Company to anyone who is looking to sell their business especially in the Healthcare sector. My first attempts (pleural) at selling my State Licensed Homecare Agency was time consuming and ended up being non-productive. At when I felt it was a near "close" my attorney asked me what I planned on doing with the money? I told him I had built my last 3 companies from the ground up, but was a mother now and really desired a turnkey operation with a current working model and business plan. I wanted a franchise! I didn't care if I pumped gas or sold fast food... I wanted to do it with my kids on my hip. I had investigated franchise options for months and thought I had a plan. He told me his wife had similar visions and he had sent her to The Kensington Company. I thought I had in the bag and knew it all, but what could the free consultation and thorough evaluation of my needs hurt! I drove the 2 hours and met with Ken and Stuart. I almost cancelled. I am glad I didn't. Prior to meeting they had me fill out a lengthy questionnaire. When we met they had fully evaluated my needs-actually listened and heard what it was I was looking for, and showed me, that I didn't know everything, and I was headed in a completely different direction in being a future franchisee. That all my wants and needs were not going to be met in the direction I was heading. They asked me to have an open mind (the woman who was willing to pump gas) and suggested 3 solid business opportunities, completely out of the box I was in, and only 25 percent of the investment I had planned. I have to admit the options seemed pretty interesting and I had to remain open minded. They were all completely different in many ways, but all gave me the same results. The money I wanted to make, the time I wanted to invest, and the flexibility I wanted in my life. It was pretty hard to narrow it down even with only 3 options. I started my due diligence investigation. Now comes the second part of my story. My attempts at selling my business on my own failed, even with a law-yer. My options were few with my exposure to potential buyers, and I had my heart SET on buying one of these 3 franchise options from Stu and Ken. They told me... we can sell your business! In the 2 years I tried I had one and a half viable buyers. In 1 month they had 4 qualified buyers! And they beauty of it? They found me a fran-chise option I could afford to buy WITHOUT selling my company. I was so eager but still did a full year's of due diligence. The sale of a Licensed Homecare Agency is time consuming, and trust me not because of Kensington, because of red tape and politics and license transfers through the state. I bought my franchise and love it one and a half years later! Best decision OF MY LIFE! The average length of time it takes to sell a Licensed Homecare Agency- though lengthy was surpassed by Kensington. They narrowed down potential buyers- they needed to know that 1- they could afford to close, 2- they would not be denied in the State's investigation and 3- they were reputable enough for me to take the time. They investigated and told me what I needed to hear. Even if they felt it was a viable option they may not run it the way I had, they may not follow my vision. Next candidate. It wasn't just about their commission. The company had my name on it. Kensington really cared. They knew more about my financial status than I did! It was a lot of work and they do not get paid until the business closes. If you ask me they do not get paid ENOUGH! The work they put in, the knowledge and expertise they have, their advising they did..... I thought I was as smart as they come. I could not have done it without them. It's a process, and not an easy one. It's not always a smooth process. Mine was not- they shielded that from me as well. There were times they told me to relax, they would handle it as I cared for my family and many times they had to work on the weekends as well as taking work home in order to facilitate my sale. My life at this point is right where I had hoped it would be. Sold one company, own another, have the life I always wanted. Thank you Kensington. And I welcome any calls for references on this company, at any time!

Throughout the long process you demonstrated incredible perseverance, professionalism and discretion. I was initially nor convinced that you, or anyone, would be able to keep the knowledge of the sale confidential for such a lengthy period of time but you managed to do just that. Even after vetting a long list of potential buyers, and finding the right buyer, the sale of my firm was kept from becoming public throughout the entire process right up to the closing date. That was truly remarkable feat given the nature of our business. Your patience with my lack of knowledge of the selling process was extraordinary. You and Stuart Levenberg took a great deal of time to answer all of my questions throughout the process and gave me a tremendous education the process. You and Stuart also maintained a level of professionalism and were a very calming presence even when the negotiations with the person that eventually purchased my firm became stressful, you and Stuart provided wise counsel that, in the end, enabled the dialogue to continue until an agreement could be found. I sincerely appreciate all of your efforts and would be delighted to act as a reference on your behalf. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of any service to you.

I am pleased to tell you about Kenneth Stein, who acted as broker in the recent sale of my manufacturing business. Ken demonstrated keen perception in analyzing my company's strengths and weaknesses on his first visit. This skill enabled him to evaluate my needs as seller, and also helped him determine an appropriate buyer. The entire negotiating process was handled with professionalism and courtesy. Either Ken or a member of his capable staff was always available to answer questions, provide direction or soothe nerves..Ken, in particular, was always there, in every way and whenever needed. It is without hesitation that I recommend Ken Stein and The Kensington Company for their commitment to client and their energetic approach to dealing with the intricacies of selling or buying a business.

I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you that Nicole and I appreciate all that you were able to do for us. Making the decision to sell wasn't easy; however, you really made the entire process a smooth transition for us. All of your hard work paid off in the end, which we could not have done it without your help. Tony Altomare is the perfect man to take WitorWitout to the next level. Again, thanks, and it was a pleasure working with you.

We have been working with Ken Stein and Kensington Company to sell our business for a number of months. Even though he has not yet had success locating a buyer for us, I am confident that if anyone can do it, it will be Ken Stein. He has delivered everything he promised us, and more to try to market and sell our challenging and unique business. He has taken the time to get to know how our business operates, who the best potential buyers would be , and then has worked hard to pursing them. Ken is the rare individual who is not only honest and ethical, but delivers whatever it takes to get the job done. In our case this mean that Ken has invested more time and energy than he originally anticipated or calculated. I am happy to wholeheartedly refer Ken to anyone who is looking for a business broker who will get results.

Joe, Thank you for all your hard efforts to find the specific buyer it took for my location. It took lots of patience and dedication to achieve this goal and you were the guy to do it.  You were a Super Pro like always. Joe is not only very professional, but also a guy you can have complete confidence in, like family. Yours truly. Emilio Branchinelli Emilios Pizza, Passione, Pasta-Eria, Fanatico, Gino’s Italian Ices

Joe, Again I would like to thank you for all your detailed support. Without you this deal would never happened and I truly mean that:))). Things are certainly moving into right direction. Finally!!! (The buyer) has started her training yesterday and she is giving resignation notices to her current employers and soon will be in the restaurant full time learning from guys. I will wait to hear from (The attorney). As far as I remember he was requesting executed contract which is not in my possession yet. Will stay in touch.

Ken, Joe is a great man. He offers his great knowledge, professionalism and charm to his clients. He works with honesty and his heart and it offers a quality where the clients can absolutely trust his advice and guidance. Joe's passion, experience and understanding of the pizza/restaurant is a priceless asset in what he does. Joe is absolutely the best!

We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to you for proficient handling of the sales process of our stores. Especially the skills in presentation of the issues are very much appreciated. And of course, application of the knowledge and experience coupled with the hard work, will take you a long way. On both professional and personal level, we really appreciate the efforts and time you put in. We wish you good luck in life and many more successes.

I want to thank you for making the sale of my business possible. Evaluating and marketing my kind of business required first class professionalism, but the sale would not have taken place without your ability to negotiate the deep waters of the small business administration's banking establishment.

As an absentee partner selling a significant business in Westchester County NY we needed a business broker who would pay attention to the daily activities in selling our store. Ken Kendes gave me updates daily if necessary and met a number of potential buyers whether during the business week or weekend. He was a very good communicator to both my partner and me. Ken took us through the lengthy process professionally and with a consistent effort that I appreciate greatly.

It is my pleasure to recommend The Kensington Company to anyone who is looking to sell their business especially in the Healthcare sector. My first attempts (pleural) at selling my State Licensed Homecare Agency was time consuming and ended up being non-productive. At when I felt it was a near "close" my attorney asked me what I planned on doing with the money? I told him I had built my last 3 companies from the ground up, but was a mother now and really desired a turnkey operation with a current working model and business plan. I wanted a franchise! I didn't care if I pumped gas or sold fast food... I wanted to do it with my kids on my hip. I had investigated franchise options for months and thought I had a plan. He told me his wife had similar visions and he had sent her to The Kensington Company. I thought I had in the bag and knew it all, but what could the free consultation and thorough evaluation of my needs hurt! I drove the 2 hours and met with Ken and Stuart. I almost cancelled. I am glad I didn't. Prior to meeting they had me fill out a lengthy questionnaire. When we met they had fully evaluated my needs-actually listened and heard what it was I was looking for, and showed me, that I didn't know everything, and I was headed in a completely different direction in being a future franchisee. That all my wants and needs were not going to be met in the direction I was heading. They asked me to have an open mind (the woman who was willing to pump gas) and suggested 3 solid business opportunities, completely out of the box I was in, and only 25 percent of the investment I had planned. I have to admit the options seemed pretty interesting and I had to remain open minded. They were all completely different in many ways, but all gave me the same results. The money I wanted to make, the time I wanted to invest, and the flexibility I wanted in my life. It was pretty hard to narrow it down even with only 3 options. I started my due diligence investigation. Now comes the second part of my story. My attempts at selling my business on my own failed, even with a law-yer. My options were few with my exposure to potential buyers, and I had my heart SET on buying one of these 3 franchise options from Stu and Ken. They told me... we can sell your business! In the 2 years I tried I had one and a half viable buyers. In 1 month they had 4 qualified buyers! And they beauty of it? They found me a fran-chise option I could afford to buy WITHOUT selling my company. I was so eager but still did a full year's of due diligence. The sale of a Licensed Homecare Agency is time consuming, and trust me not because of Kensington, because of red tape and politics and license transfers through the state. I bought my franchise and love it one and a half years later! Best decision OF MY LIFE! The average length of time it takes to sell a Licensed Homecare Agency- though lengthy was surpassed by Kensington. They narrowed down potential buyers- they needed to know that 1- they could afford to close, 2- they would not be denied in the State's investigation and 3- they were reputable enough for me to take the time. They investigated and told me what I needed to hear. Even if they felt it was a viable option they may not run it the way I had, they may not follow my vision. Next candidate. It wasn't just about their commission. The company had my name on it. Kensington really cared. They knew more about my financial status than I did! It was a lot of work and they do not get paid until the business closes. If you ask me they do not get paid ENOUGH! The work they put in, the knowledge and expertise they have, their advising they did..... I thought I was as smart as they come. I could not have done it without them. It's a process, and not an easy one. It's not always a smooth process. Mine was not- they shielded that from me as well. There were times they told me to relax, they would handle it as I cared for my family and many times they had to work on the weekends as well as taking work home in order to facilitate my sale. My life at this point is right where I had hoped it would be. Sold one company, own another, have the life I always wanted. Thank you Kensington. And I welcome any calls for references on this company, at any time!

We wanted to take the time to write and express our sincere thanks to you for the outstanding job Kensington Company did, assisting us in choosing Hand and Stone as the business that was right us and the subsequent regional developer training. Without your steady and conscientious presence, our dream of owning our own business would have taken infinitely longer. Your relaxed but highly motivated attitude always gave us the assurance that we were moving forward albeit at a pace dictated by us. During our training at your offices your attention to detail was evident from the moment we were picked up from the airport. That Kensington spared no expense in making sure we were thoroughly trained. However, going above and beyond the training, your thoughtfulness in handling our every need outside of training was evident in everything you did. The combination and contrasting styles of Ken and Stuart in their reaching methods as well as the moments of unadulterated levity offers the vastness of the material we needed to digest. Before we knew it, the days and material flew by but what is more, we never felt overwhelmed. It was plainly obvious that Ken, Stuart and Elaine, took a genuine in us and our continued success. We count ourselves very fortunate to have forged this relationships and are excited about watching it grow in the future. The biggest compliment we can afford to anyone in business is that we would recommend them to our friends and family should they be in need of service. The Kensington Company will be the first name on our list. Thank you for putting us in the best possible position to succeed.

Stuart is the best franchise consultant and the only one you will ever need! It took me eleven months to find the perfect franchise for me, but that did not discourage him. Stuart was always there for me throughout the entire process of finding a franchise that was the right fit for me. He was incredibly supportive, and gave me the guidance that I was seeking to navigate the exciting world of franchises. With Stuart I learned about so many franchises that I had never heard of before, yet each one of them seemed to be in the top of the list in their respective industries. Stuart is always trying to excel at matching franchises with your interests, likes/dislikes and lifestyle, so it is very a very personalized service. Stuart is super knowledgeable about franchises and has many many years of experience. I would always come to him to ask about his thoughts on different industries and franchises and their challenges. I am the kind of person that always has tons of questions, and yet he always kept his great attitude and would stay on the phone with me as long as it was needed, which many times ended up being one hour long calls. Stuart is very personable as well. All the franchise representatives that I spoke with, knew Stuart and spoke very highly of him. I really appreciated that Stuart was always reachable, even when we had to speak during the evenings or weekends to match my busy work schedule. Stuart has a great way of presenting the franchises to his clients, that never feels commercial. He allows his clients to take as long as they need, to decide if the franchises are a good fit for them or not. With Stuart you can find a franchise as quick or as slow as you want. You set your pace and can take as long as you need until you find the right fit for you. Stuart is also very resourceful in helping you find anything you need to start your business. He recommended me a fantastic lawyer and accountant that are just a great fit for me and my company. Thanks to Stuart I am incredibly excited to be starting my business in one month!

After spending the past 18 years as an 8-unit McDonald's franchisee, I searched long and hard to find the right franchise concept and company to start my "second franchise career". McDonald's is a hard act to follow financially, but I knew that I wanted to be in a growing industry that had fewer "moving parts" and was easier to run than a restaurant. My criteria in judging a franchise was simple: It had to be in a growth industry, give me the quality of life and freedom that I desired, provide a continual revenue stream and have a corporate structure, people and vision that I could relate to. I was fortunate that my due diligence led me to a successful business broker, Ken Stein of the Kensington Company who represented Hand and Stone Franchise Corporation in rolling out their concept nationwide. Ken is part of FranNet, a network of nationwide Franchise Consultants and had a wealth of franchise knowledge across many different industries. I soon narrowed my search down to a massage franchise, based on the incredible and documentable growth that will be realized over the next 10-15 years, based on US Labor Department statistics, the AMA, and various Wellness and Massage related sources. have always been a big proponent of massage and felt that more people would incorporate massage into their lives if it were more affordable and available when they wanted it. Here was a company that understood that, and developed their membership-based massage franchise entirely on that premise. A great massage experience at an affordable price, seven days a week! I felt sure that this business model would certainly lap into the almost 80% of Americans that had never experienced a massage! Both the people at the Kensington Company as well as Hand and Stone Corporate, allowed me to conduct my research and provided me with all of the information about the industry and their business model to make me feel comfortable with my decision. Never once did I feel pressured at any time during my due diligence or negotiations. The process of buying a franchise was, as Ken said; "...a living and breathing thing, which needed time to develop." After thorough investigation into Hand and Stone as well as three other competitors, I felt that Hand and Stone was uniquely qualified to be the leader in the industry of massage spa services. I decided to join the Hand and Stone Massage Spa team as a Regional Developer for Long Island and Northern New Jersey. I am doing exactly what I love to do; helping people get into business for themselves and be successful. Whether they have decided to leave the uncertainty of their corporate jobs and own their own business, or this is their 2nd or 3rd business venture -- my regional team and I, as well as everyone at Hand and Stone Corporate is there to assist them in the training, start-up and running of their business. I tell my franchisees that one of the wonderful things about owning a "franchise" is that you are in business "for yourself', but not "by yourself'. Another great part of being a Regional Developer is the ability to open my own Hand and Stone Massage Spa. This gives me the unique opportunity to understand, refine and improve on any issues or great ideas my franchisees bring to me, because I am not only a Regional Developer but also a franchisee, like them. Now, I spend my time doing good works; helping others to be successful in business by teaching them how to work "on" their business and not "in" it; as well as helping to spread the many benefits of regular and affordable massage to our current and future customers. That makes me feel very good at the end of the day!

We wanted to take the time to write and express our sincere thanks to you for the outstanding job Kensington Company did, assisting us in choosing Hand and Stone as the business that was right us and the subsequent regional developer training. Without your steady and conscientious presence, our dream of owning our own business would have taken infinitely longer. Your relaxed but highly motivated attitude always gave us the assurance that we were moving forward albeit at a pace dictated by us. During our training at your offices your attention to detail was evident from the moment we were picked up from the airport. That Kensington spared no expense in making sure we were thoroughly trained. However, going above and beyond the training, your thoughtfulness in handling our every need outside of training was evident in everything you did. The combination and contrasting styles of Ken and Stuart in their reaching methods as well as the moments of unadulterated levity offers the vastness of the material we needed to digest. Before we knew it, the days and material flew by but what is more, we never felt overwhelmed. It was plainly obvious that Ken, Stuart and Elaine, took a genuine in us and our continued success. We count ourselves very fortunate to have forged this relationships and are excited about watching it grow in the future. The biggest compliment we can afford to anyone in business is that we would recommend them to our friends and family should they be in need of service. The Kensington Company will be the first name on our list. Thank you for putting us in the best possible position to succeed.

It is with great pleasure and sincere gratitude that I send you this letter. Last summer we were able to completely sell out the Long Island market largely due to your help and four quality candidates placed through your office. Of those four candidates three are currently listed in the Top 10 New Franchisee List for customer recruitment. Dennis and Melissa Stein are the leaders in New Customer recruitment; Marc Wiener is sixth ranked; and Jason Mastropierro is right behind him at No. 7. We could not be more pleased with their performance and the strength they have shown in growing the Mosquito Joe Brand within the Long Island market, and the season is not over yet! These rankings are even more impressive when comparing their results to our new franchisees in previous seasons. Our 2016 Class is our strongest class yet and this is not only a testament to the strength of our support team and our powerful brand but it is also a strong indicator that we are getting better at selecting the right people. Kensington Company has brought us candidates with the right stuff! Ken and Stuart, you know what you are doing and you have proven to be the best in the business. Our only regret is that we do not have more territories for you to help us develop!

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank you for the great Meet the Zor event on Thursday, April 26, 2012. It was by far the best planned and organized MTZ that I have attended. The quality of attendees with whom I spoke was excellent, and we have several strong leads to pursue. Express is a great franchise model, and as a former owner for 12 years, I can attest to the ability to own your business, but not be in business alone. The ability to achieve income and lifestyle expectations and to build something of value to liquidate in the future is achievable at Express by owning a single franchise. We look forward to working with you and your team in the future. Let’s build the Express name on Long Island! All the best to you.

Both Ken Stein & Stuart Levenberg from The Kensington Company have been representing JAN-PRO Franchising International with a number of very qualified candidates. We are very appreciative of their outstanding performance and find them to be exceptional among Consultant Franchise business Brokers. We started working with Ken and Stuart in early 2006 to begin identifying appropriate Master Franchise Owners that would best fit our business model. Although Ken and Stuart understood the franchise segment of the commercial cleaning industry, they wanted to understand the specifics of our business model. They quickly learned about the industry, the recurring revenues, and specific industry growth that would attract the right candidates. In a relatively short period of time, they identified six top master prospects. During the courting phase and personal meetings with these very high-quality candidates, they were extremely helpful in guiding us through the pros and cons of each distinctly different prospect and proved invaluable in helping us determine the best fit for us while providing feedback on our own performance. During the qualifying process, both Ken and Stuart play a pivotal role in helping to determine the right franchise concept for the right candidate while maintaining a a sense of decorum. Throughout the process, we continue to be very impressed with their professionalism, their patience, and perhaps most importantly, their ability to keep things in perspective. Although we feel that the representation of JAN-PRO by The Kensington Company is an endorsement of our strong management team and successful track record, we know that many candidates might not have been as attracted to us without Ken and Stuart's direct involvement, knowledge and professionalism.

On behalf of the (expanding!) Great Play team, I want to thank you for your great work finding outstanding candidates to become Great Play franchisees - for both the sale of our corporate unit in Scarsdale, and now for a new unit in Nassau County. A few thing I feel stand our and set you apart in what you do: You surface strong candidates, but you don't leave it at that. You work diligently in the background throughout the process to keep things on track and to facilitate critically important communication among the parties to make sure nothing goes wrong that doesn't have to. You are straightforward, honest and you do nor push the wrong fit. You recognize that this will be a long term relationship for us with the franchisees, and you are not trying to just push us to “make a sale” or for the franchisee to get into something that isn't right for them. However, once it is clear to everyone that it is a good fit, you are also able to drive the process and keep all parties (buyer, seller and attorneys) on track to get to a timely close. In both instances we have been working against challenging time deadlines and you have been instrumental in making sure we hit them. And finally, you truly are a pleasure to work with!

I have known Ken Stein for many years and have yet to become associated with a more ethical salesperson in my career. Not only does he possess the highest ethical standards. But the quality of his work and the work of his employees is impeccable. I would never hesitate to recommend any franchisor client of mine to use their services.

The Kensington Company hosts the finest, best attended “Meet The Franchisor Event” of any other business broker firm that I have met in my 25 years of speaking at these meetings. More importantly, the attendees are the highest caliber, most sincere individuals who desire to be in business for themselves. Kudos to Ken Stein, Stuart Levenberg and their associates.