WSI Deep Dive 

Overview

WSI is a digital marketing company with a strong international presence. Our Digital Marketing Consultants use their knowledge and expertise to make a difference for businesses all around the world. Leading the way with AI and AI enabled tools.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, we also have offices across the globe operating in 4 main languages (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese). We're a powerful network of marketers who strive to discover, analyze, build, and implement digital solutions that win digital marketing awards and help businesses succeed online.

Here are some quick facts about WSI you may not know:

• 80% of our franchisees' clients have reoccurring revenue

• Franchisees have about a 90% retention rate with those same customers

• 50 - 60% profit margins

• Franchisees come into the business for a lifestyle change; many run the business from home to replace a corporate income, and many have an office staff.

• Less than 20% of franchisees have any technical experience

• The business is portable and expandable

• Costs in the first year total to around 80K to 95k, including franchise fee, operational and marketing expenses

•  Territory options (Gives you the ability to do business in) are Regional (State) $64,700, National (Country) $69,700, and International (World) $79,700. Owners will need an additional 15k for Operational and Marketing expenses first year (in addition to living expenses to get to profitability).

By The Numbers

Established: 1995

First Unit Franchised: 1997

Franchised Units: 160+ in USA

Company Owned Units: 1

Cash Investment: $64,700 to $79,700

Total Investment: $80,000 to $95,000

Minimum Net Worth: $250,000

Average Number of Employees: 1-2

Training and Support

Training:

• Open business as soon as approved and finalized (Earn and learn concept)

• 5 day in class Toronto home office

• Coaching support for 9 months

• Full ongoing training and support

Other info:

Our territory structure is non-exclusive and unrestricted. The territory is not exclusive but the client is. Furthermore, we don't have multi-unit opportunities, but instead have different sized territories as follows:

Function of the owner/daily tasks

• Relationship building with small and medium-sized businesses, opportunities to work with large corporations as well

• Attend networking meetings

• Project management

• Consultative sales and marketing

• Managing vendor relations with WSI Authorized Suppliers

• Review progress of digital marketing campaigns with clients

• Ongoing monthly or quarterly consultations 

• Ongoing learning and training provided by WSI and its Authorized Suppliers

Item 19 Numbers:

Note there is no averages, you need to speak to franchisees for that. This is likely because they have a barbell of great performers (excellent at sales) and poor performers (can't drive customer acquisition). This franchise is for hungry entrepreneurs who will drive B2B sales.

This is from the FDD issues April 2025.

Analysis

This franchise is for those who can prospect, network, and drive customer acquisition. Once you do that, you need to be able to ask good questions, read the client's data, and make recommendations based on your training from WSI. You aren't a marketer, you are a marketing consultant. WSI has a number of marketers you will use to execute any of the plans you generate for your client. You don't need to know how to "do the thing", you need to know how to assess a client's issues and what solution can solve that issue. Since this has high customer retention, you can build a big business over time. However, there is a steep learning curve and you need to gain initial clients to prove yourself before you can truly grow (look at max revenue at year 2+ vs 3+). If you are able to get through this learning curve and enjoy working with small business owners, this may be a great business for you.

Cons:

• It is less of a "system" like your typical franchise

• It is heavily dependent on the abilities of the franchisee

• It is owner operator for several years

Pros

• The territory is national

• People have created very big businesses in this system

• Low investment

Overall, I rank this as a B.

Knowing it has to be the absolutely right person means there is a risk you invest in the business and something happens that prevents you from driving the business for the next 4-5 years to become big enough to hire a staff to replace yourself. Also, if you think you are the right person but are wrong about it- you are in big trouble