Are your chances for franchise success better with a large, well-known franchise than with a small company that's only recently begun to franchise its concept?

Although logic suggests that a well-established franchise with many locations would be the safest choice, brand name and number of locations doesn't guarantee success.

There are many advantages to opening up a franchise versus an independent store. But there are some disadvantages, as well.

When it comes to owning a small business, not everyone goes the route of starting up their own mom-and-pop shop. In fact, if a hopeful entrepreneur has no clue how to write a business plan and likes the idea of having a bigger “parent” company at their backs, opening a franchise might be the better option.

Franchises are making gains on independents, especially restaurants. By 2013, franchise eateries -- fast food outlets, family sit-down places, etc. -- will outnumber all others.

From 2000 to 2008, the number of franchise restaurants grew by 20%, while the number of nonfranchise restaurants fell by nearly 4%, according to data compiled by NPD Group, a retail market research firm.

When investigating a franchise opportunity one of the most difficult pieces of information to get from the franchisor is how much money you might make. This may be frustrating because you are not going to invest in a business until you have a good idea of what you can earn. In most cases the franchisor is not being purposely difficult.

From the leadership positions they hold, to the purchasing power they wield, women and minorities play an important role in the overall U.S. economy. Women and minorities have a presence in every industry and their contributions fuel economic growth. Hispanics alone account for 15% of the U.S. population, and by 2050 that number is expected to nearly double to 29%.

You've decided to take a leap and open a franchise. There is an abundance of franchise opportunities available, whether they are in the retail or service sector. Most businesses fall under one of these headings, with one providing a tangible item to purchase vs. a business that provides some type of service. Many times the determining factor will lie within your own personality and educational background.

Kendera Rimmer wanted to buy the Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pasta franchise at 3037 Main St. in Kansas City.

“This store means the world to me,” said Rimmer, 38, who since 2004 had advanced through the ranks from sandwich maker to general manager. Rimmer’s boss — the owner of the restaurant — was receptive to selling to her.

Do you own a franchise and want to terminate or sell it? Are you interested in buying a franchise? What agreements will the franchisor require? Here you'll find a great resource guide on franchise businesses as well as some valuable advice to help you better understand the franchise world.

Some women plan on becoming business owners practically as soon as they can talk and others fall into it by happenstance, but the motivation is often the same -- they want to escape the drudgery of working for someone else and make their own business decisions. Mary Ellen Sheets became an entrepreneur once her sons went off to college, leaving their after-school moving business behind. Before that, she was a systems analyst.

If you have the investment capital, the inclination and desire to succeed, a willingness to learn, a wish to be your own boss and a yearn to achieve a comfortable lifestyle, franchise investments offer the opportunity to achieve these goals.

When looking at franchise investments there are some elements you should look out for when making your decision:

Decisions in franchise-related law in 2009 produced new frameworks under which franchisors and franchisees will be doing business in the year ahead, and beyond.

Citing four restaurant-industry cases, litigators in the Atlanta-based DLA Piper LLP international law firm this week offered the “Top Nine for '09” legal decisions that they think will be affecting franchisor-franchisee agreements.

After being unemployed for a year, Pauline Hamian ditched the résumé and bought herself a job.
The former Burger King employee had no luck finding a job after being part of a corporate restructuring in 2008. While at an outplacement center, she stumbled on a webinar about franchising.

The availability of information about franchises for sale on the internet has taken some of the wind out of the sails of franchise exhibitions worldwide, but cannot replace the person-to-person contact where sellers and potential franchise buyers can meet and interact on the spot.

Most franchise exhibitions also include a seminar program, held in parallel with the expo, so that visitors can learn about specific topics of interest in a structured format.

A business to business company differs from others in such that while the others cater to consumers, b2b caters to businesses in a particular area.  The options and choices available upon thinking of going into this kind of business is not just profitable but diverse.  Here you can offer blue collar services such as networking or marketing or white collar services like printing and janitorial services.

As environmental awareness increases and governments, companies, and consumers demand planet-friendly alternatives for just about every product and service, a growing number of franchise companies are meeting the demand by changing the way they do business. Some concepts have centered their businesses around going green, while others have simply moved with the times by bettering the ways in which they do business.

1. Understand how franchising works!

2. Know what your own financial situation and objectives are to determine if franchise ownership is a workable option for you.

3. Examine your own motives, temperament, lifestyle preferences, health, family obligations, likes and dislikes to be sure you are realistic about undertaking a particular type of business.

Many business franchise opportunities are available through online sources that offer unique and successful startup packages for creative entrepreneurs. A business franchise opportunity is appealing to many people that are looking for ways to begin a new career, leave an unsatisfying job, or make added income for their families. Today's change in job market trends and needs have left some baby boomers in the cooperate world without jobs.

1. Not reading, understanding or asking questions about the disclosure document. These documents are typically long, sometimes 80 pages, but it is very important that you read and understand each item, 1 through 23, of the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). As you read the document, keep notes on those areas that are confusing and unclear.

If you’re in the middle of searching for a franchise to own, you’ve probably read about franchise concepts that state, “No previous experience is necessary.” How can this be the case when you’ll own and possibly manage a business? The reality is that although some concepts do require previous business ownership or industry experience, most truly do not.

It is a pre-conceived notion that purchasing a franchise requires a pocket full of money and oodles of money saved up in the banks, earning interest rates. Well, the reality is different. Anyone who is practically ANYONE can purchase a franchise and is a very good investment in all aspects. Now the question is why should you buy a franchise?

The first thing you need to keep in mind in your investigation is that it is a process of mutual elimination for both you and the franchisor. Therefore both of you are trying to determine if the fit seems right from the beginning. If either party comes to the realization that this is not the right match, they simply inform the other party and move on.

As the new year begins, prospective business owners are thinking about the coming year and making plans to purchase a business in 2010. Particularly since experiencing difficult economic times, business buyers have become more frugal, choosing not to spend their entire life savings on a business. In general, people value time with their families, a more flexible schedule, and cutting out the daily commute to work.

Since it’s beginnings in the 1950’s in America Franchising has been a steadily growing business. In the UK in the 1990’s there was an explosion of franchising activity and throughout the last decade the model has continued to proposer.

This article is not about the history of the franchise industry; far too much has been written about that. Nor am I writing about franchising your business; that’s a topic for later.

To assist with franchisee recruitment the Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence surveyed attendees at a franchise business opportunity expo.

The surveys, conducted by Centre researcher and PhD candidate Steve Bennett, provided insight into potential franchisee’ needs and wants to help franchisors create better franchisee recruitment practices.

There are some people who just happen to be born with the entrepreneurial spirit. It makes them willing to dream big and step out in a leap of faith, even when the cost of a potential failure is as grand in scale as the possible benefit of a successful venture. One of the most appealing means of taking the first step toward the sustained career and lifestyle of a business owner is to purchase a license to operate a franchise of an already well-established business.

Because a franchise system is a symbiotic relationship, franchisors spend as much time studying you as you researching about them.  Yes you may bring in added income and aid the expansion plans of the company but if you end up not equal to the tasks of managing their company’s name, you may do them more harm than good.

With a new year approaching, now is an ideal time to reevaluate your future goals and aspirations. If the economic climate has put you in a holding pattern and you’re determined to make 2010 the year that you turn your hopes and dreams into action, then consider becoming your own boss. Franchise ownership enables you to get into business in a relatively brief period of time with an established concept that features a well-known brand and a proven business system.

After careful review of the UFOC/ FDD, you should be able to evaluate the business proposition, and whether or not the franchise will help you meet your financial and future goals. There are several major areas you must consider in deciding if the business proposition is the right one for you. One very direct way is to talk to other franchisees about their experience running the business and dealing with the franchisor.

There have been hundreds of theories and books written on what constitutes effective leadership. My work with many franchise companies, both good and not so good, has led me to the conclusion that effective leadership is the single most important factor in the long-term success of a franchise network. When you strip away the apparent cause of every significant achievement or problem there is always one driving force -- effective leadership or lack of it.

Buying a franchise needs the same kind of examination as an independent business. The first and most important thing is to look for a field you are interested in, you have the skills already, or you feel you can learn easily. You must also decide how much time and work you are ready to commit to make the franchise successful. You also might want to consider if you will be able to carry on the business if your franchisor shuts down the business.

Once you’ve decided, after conducting the necessary research, reviewing your finances, and consulting with an accountant and attorney about your situation, you’re must prepare to tackle the paperwork that precedes franchise ownership.

The primary document to examine in-depth is the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), formerly known as the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular, which must be issued to all prospective franchisees at least ten days before the signing of any contracts.

If you are doing research on the franchise industry as a whole or even on one particular franchise company, you will probably run across a number of phrases which are repeated over and over. Are these just clichés, basically without merit, notable only because they are used so frequently? Or are the clichés used so frequently because they are true?

You want a franchise business, but not just any old thing--you want something big time. We're talking about a multimillion-dollar enterprise. So how do you go about accomplishing that goal?

The easiest way to do this is to simply start at that level. Buy yourself a multimillion-dollar operation from the get-go, and you've already arrived.

If you are looking for a franchise opportunity, the choice is mind-boggling. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of different types of franchise available for you to invest in, with the same variety in cost. Each has its own benefits and usually the more you pay there is more potential to earn.

Franchisee Recruitment Incentives

The process of granting franchises (or selling franchises as some refer to it) is one that can take anywhere from three months to three years. An initial inquiry from a prospective franchisee may not ultimately convert to a signed franchise agreement until an extensive process of assessment and reassessment has been completed by both parties.

Everyone in the franchisor’s organization must understand the legal “do’s” and “don’ts” of franchise development.

Every successful franchise system has built its foundation with several key components.  One of the essential building blocks is a franchise development program that effectively finds and then convinces high-quality franchisees to join the system in a manner that meets the company’s growth objectives without violating the franchise sales laws.

All good Franchise systems will require that Franchise Agreements are the same for all Franchisees. As a consequence, they will generally make the statement that the Franchise Agreement is a non-negotiable instrument. If a Franchise system allows for the negotiation of the various clauses contained within its Agreement that should be an indication that their own belief in their system is not as strong as you might think. Yet the system is what a Franchisee will be investing in, so…

Entrepreneurs looking for financial backing to buy a franchise can count on two things: lenders want to see strong business plans, and they expect borrowers to provide about a third of the total capital needed. Depending on the type of franchise, this could mean coming up with roughly $50,000 to $200,000 from savings, stocks, bonds, pensions, IRAs, property, and so on.

Franchise Article Author: Federal Trade Commission

If you're thinking about starting your own business and have only a small amount to invest, you may be considering buying a janitorial services franchise. For a fee, a janitorial service company (the "franchisor") typically provides you (the "franchisee") with customers and marketing, billing and collection services.

Management franchises can be an excellent route to business for folks who would like to run a business for themselves but don't really like to get their hands dirty. One of the key benefits of a management franchise opportunity is that you can hire workers as the franchise business expands.

Technology has woven through the fabric of franchising making it soar in the business world and it has revolutionized the franchise market to a higher level as well. What makes franchising more exciting, fast-paced, and interactive nowadays is its adaptability to the emergence of various technologically-advanced tools being incorporated in the franchise system in most franchise opportunities.

Franchisors are likely to stress an ability to follow a system. After all, it's common knowledge that at the core of any franchise's success is a tried, tested, and perfected system which is then duplicated over and over again. But what if a franchisee has an idea for a new product or a better system of efficiency? In such a well-oiled machine, is there room for innovation?

Every Franchise system should have a clear understanding of the following concepts. In addition, they should have a clear marketing strategy to help their Franchisees communicate to customers and prospects about how they will deliver these currencies as they operate their Franchise.

Trade. Give something to get something. Our inhabited globe has come a long way since the act of trade meant that ‘I’ll give you one caribou if you give me three baskets of carrots and a cord of wood’.

Many people are searching for ways they can best meet their financial goals. Some of the popular google searches are on things such as what are the best franchise opportunities and can I be successful with them? Some of the most popular and best franchise opportunities are often considered to be with companies such as Subway, McDonald's, Ace Hardware, or Pizza Hut.

Want to be your own boss? A franchise or business opportunity may sound appealing, especially if you have limited resources or business experience. However, you could lose a significant amount of money if you don't investigate a business carefully before you buy. The Federal Trade Commission's Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule requires franchise and business opportunity sellers to give you specific information to help you make an informed decision.

Franchise financing in Canada has some major similarities to the U.S. market, but is different in some key respects. This article will explore some of those similarities and differences that we have observed in the marketplace. More and more entrepreneurs are of course looking at franchise financing for a combination of both employment and entry intro entrepreneurship under a reduced risk mode. That is to say that a proven franchise concept enhances chances of business success.

1. Understand how franchising works!

2. Know what your own financial situation and objectives are to determine if franchise ownership is a workable option for you.

3. Examine your own motives, temperament, lifestyle preferences, health, family obligations, likes and dislikes to be sure you are realistic about undertaking a particular type of business.

Mandatory centralized marketing programs are probably one of the greatest strengths of franchising. Pooling funds from all of the franchisees in a system gives them, collectively, much greater marketing power. This central fund can be used to do things that no single franchisee could afford, like running television advertising campaigns. The fund can also be used to hire experts to produce advertising materials of far better quality than what an individual owner could create.

One of the downsides to becoming a franchisee is the waiting. If you have a retail location, you will wait for the site selection process to be completed, then wait again for the lease signing and build-out phases. Next you wait for customers to find you. If you have a service-based business, you have to go out and sell your services.

A type of business organization in which a firm which already has a successful product or service enters into a ongoing contractual association with other businesses operating under the franchisor's trade name and generally with the franchisor's direction, in exchange for a fee is known as franchising.