Fast foot service: Heel Quick! shoe repair puts its best financial foot forward.

As the song goes, "Don't you step on my blue suede shoes." But for people like Marvin Staten and his wife and partner, Shelley, the more scrapes and scuffs the better. Staten is the owner of a Heel Sew Quik! shoe repair franchise in Greenville, N.C.

Prior to opening his own business, Staten spent 15 years working at Procter & Gamble, the Ohio-based international manufacturing and retail company. As a production line leader and manufacturing coordinator, Staten earned a respectable salary of $42,000. Today, he's grossing over $150,000 fixing wing tips and pumps.

Staten spent four years researching 15 different franchise companies before settling on Heel Sew Quik! Since he had extensive experience working with his hands and ample knowledge about machinery, he thought that a shoe repair franchise would suit him.

Besides, Marietta, Ga.-based Heel Quik! Corp. provides more than just shoe repairs. To generate revenues, it offers extensive complimentary customer services such as clothing alterations, dry cleaning, retail sales, luggage repair, monogramming and key making.

After an initial three-week training session, Staten was ready to open shop in 1991. He rented 700-sq.-ft. of office space for a little over $1,200 a month. The franchise fee cost $17,500, and equipment totaled $42,500. Staten financed the deal by using part of his personal savings and $50,000 worth of his retirement money as collateral.

In general, franchise fees range from $2,500 to $20,000, plus a 4% to 6% royalty fee. The total investment for a shoe repair franchise can run $135,000 or more, taking into account ongoing advertising and maintenance costs.

According to the Shoe Services Institute of America, there are approximately 12,000 shoe repair and retail companies in the U.S. About 90% are private and family-owned, the other 10% are franchises.

Common shoe repairs for men's worn-out heels and soles start at about $25. The average cost for women's high heel repairs is $3.50 to $5. While shoe repairs for men cost more, it's estimated that women generate 60% of total revenues for shoe repair shops.

There is a market out there for would-be franchisees, says Staten, who has two employees, one full-time, the other a part-timer. However, he warns, "only 10% of the population regularly gets their shoes repaired. So, the challenge is to get the other 90% to view shoe repair and care as being more economical than buying new shoes."

Anyone interested in owning a shoe repair franchise should also have marketing and retail experience, he adds. "Technical assistance is available to anyone in this business, but customer service should be your top priority."

For more information, contract Heel Quik! Corp. (800-225-8145), the Shoe Services Institute of America (410-931-8100) or the International Franchise Association (800-543-1038). Other potential shoe repair franchises to consider are Cobblestone Franchising Inc. (214-696-4436) and Shoe Fixers Inc. (616-453-4754).