Although it may not be immediately evident, a franchise company is under no obligation to award a franchise to just anyone who can afford the franchise fee.

Like any good business, a franchise company will want to populate their...

George Miksovsky spent over 30 years working in the electric utility business. He had broad experience in the industry, from customer service to distribution. However, like so many these days, he was a victim of downsizing.

If you are considering a Franchise as your next career move, you probably already understand a number of the benefits to being a part of a franchise system. However, as each franchisor will offer different levels of assistance, it can..

The decision to award a franchise is highly influenced by territorial considerations. Very often, the franchiser will seek partners in specific locations, where their business might be unrepresented. So, when you sign up as a franchisee...

Want start a franchise business but don’t know where to begin? This is a big decision for any entrepreneur and a lot of thought and planning must go into it. You need to consider several factors before you start a franchise...

Once you have decided a franchise is the right route for you, how do you choose the right one? To choose the franchise that is right for you and that will fulfill your business dreams, you must know yourself, your skills, and your dreams...

Tell me what is wrong with this sentence:  Franchising provides the opportunity for entrepreneurship.  It is grammatically correct and “entrepreneurship” is a “real” word; so, where is the error?

Franchising may have been around since the beginnings of humanity.  Albert Singer gets the credit for establishing the first “commercialized” franchise, but historians believe similar activities could have existed well...

If you're considering “buying” a franchised business in Canada and you live in Ontario, Alberta or PEI (and soon, New Brunswick), consider yourself lucky because they have specific legislation that protects franchisees.

Millions of workers are quietly toiling in their cubicles and dream of breaking free from corporate culture. Almost a quarter of full-time or part-time working Americans have considered leaving a job to become self-employed, according...

College buddies Dan Ketmayura and James Kim have gone from selling high-tech know-how to serving up sushi. The pair bought a franchise in Milton after being laid off last year. Instead of waiting on the recovery to yield more corporate...

People who buy franchises are among those creating new American jobs—about 36,000 this year, according to the International Franchise Association. The trade association, which represents about 1,250 franchise companies and 10,000...

Franchises play an integral role in our lives and American society in general. Most likely, you're a frequent customer at the local Subway franchise. Or you know people who have found success through franchising. Perhaps you've even...

Once you have decided to invest in a franchise, step back from the excitement of going into business for yourself and make sure the franchise of your dreams is all it promises to be.

You may have been working with a...

Despite best efforts, there may come a time during a franchise partnership where franchisee and franchisor disagree. This is a reality in any relationship. Maybe you disagree with how national advertising dollars are being spent, or...

The franchisee/franchisor relationship is a unique one. It differs significantly from the average “employee/employer” dynamic in various ways.

Over the course of 16 years, I’ve been both a franchisor and a...

At one time, a good credit score and the backing of a big franchise name was enough to secure funding for a new franchise venture. But these days, credit is so tight that many dreams of franchise ownership have had to be put on hold.

For years I've been reading articles about franchisors' desire to select franchisees that are not too entrepreneurial. Recruiting business people, who are interdependent rather than independent. Of course, there is some truth to this not...

The economy is on the mend. The government has launched a boatload of programs to get small businesses financing. President Barack Obama has urged banks to give the companies a "third and fourth look" before rejecting them for loans.

FAST-FOOD firms have to be a thick-skinned bunch. Health experts regularly lambast them for peddling food that makes people fat. Critics even complain that McDonald’s, whose golden arches symbolise calorie excess, should not have...

So you got the franchising bug. You heeded the calling to go into business for yourself. But you decided you didn't want to go it alone and you've teamed up with an operating partner to launch the new unit. It's now time for a reality...

Whether buying a franchise or looking to franchise an existing business there are numerous issues to consider. One seldom mentioned but important area affecting prospective franchisees and franchisors is deciding on which type of...

Starting a franchise business is the safest and easiest way to enter the business world and enjoy success. Well, once you have decided upon a new franchise business that is likely to provide a high ROI (return on investment), the next...

You’ve probably heard the term “turnkey” many times and may have wondered what it means in terms of franchising. Turnkey basically refers to a franchise package so complete that everything you need to start the...

There are many advantages to getting help from a professional who knows the inside workings of an industry or issue. Just having someone who can help interpret the jargon associated with a topic that is new to you can be a tremendous...

If you were trying an aerial trapeze stunt for the first time, would you do it without a net and safety harness? Probably not because chances are very good that you would fall. The same holds true for business ownership. If you've never...

Over the past 15 years, Jim Idsardi has found success owning numerous businesses, however becoming an entrepreneur wasn't the career path he originally planned on pursuing, "I studied accounting in college, and I wanted to become a DEA...

Investing in your own business can be one of the most critical decisions one will ever make. The challenges are enormous physically and emotionally. Even finalizing a decision to own one's own business is daunting in itself. Many budding...

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2010—A new law in Oklahoma recognizes the important role that franchised businesses play in the economy and clarifies the definition of franchisees and employees, the International Franchise Association said to...

Owning a franchise is often depicted as being in business for yourself, but not completely alone. Franchise owners work under a proven successful business structure. They also have access to proven operational and marketing strategies...

You know, it’s kind of funny.  I very often have people ask me for a business that no one else has.  Something unique, or different from everything else out there.  And I understand the thought behind it, too.

1. Select a franchising company that is primarily interested in distributing quality products and services to ultimate consumers. Although this rule may seem obvious, many (if not most) franchising companies are primarily interested in...

Low consumer confidence, fickle consumer spending, unpredictable commodity costs, and tight credit markets are all causing distress throughout the franchise industry and injecting new stress into the franchisor/franchisee relationship.

Recent fast-food litigation involving Burger King raises interesting issues on the rights of franchisors to mandate prices with its franchisees.

Burger King claims it has the right to mandate a maximum price of $1 on double...

Owning a franchise is generally considered to be the safest route to success for the aspiring entrepreneur compared to an independent business. This is due to the high success rate of the franchise business opportunity because of...

The first factor that should be taken into account is, are there enough people or businesses in your area to sustain your franchise ideas? If the answer is no, then research local developments, such as new industrial parks or housing...

Imagine a well-run franchise as an orchestra. All of the musicians are attentive, working together and following the conductor’s lead to make a beautiful piece of music. Then, imagine what it would be like to be part of such a...

When Remi Tessier recently decided to open a pizza franchise, he got a big surprise: it was not going to be easy to get financing from a bank.

Mr. Tessier had owned a liquor store for nearly a decade. He had a good credit score...

Opening a franchise business is widely regarded as a very effective way for the average entrepreneur to minimize their risk when starting a new business. In general terms I would agree that this claim is accurate. However, don’t...

Is the franchisor a one-person company? or
Is the franchisor a corporation with an experienced management that is well trained?

Is the franchisor offering you an exclusive territory for the length of the franchise? or...

Financing for franchisees continues to be an obstacle to the growth of franchise brands. Conventional lenders have pulled out of franchise lending unless the concept meets very stringent criteria. The International Franchise Association...

As the song by Joni Mitchell goes; " I've looked life from both sides now," and, I have. (The song was part of the opening ceremonies at the 2010 Canadian Winter Olympics, and keyed my imagination.) After spending more than three...

Franchising has had an unquestionable impact on many countries economies and is widely acclaimed for its contribution to GDP, retail sales, job creation and training. Many chain operations utilising franchising have grown large franchise...

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) - An Overview

If you're serious about buying a franchise, at some point you're going to receive and review a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The purpose of the FDD is to give the...

Of all the offerings in the franchise market, the restaurant industry certainly offers the most choices. Any why not, people need to eat! Prospects are drawn to the restaurant industry under the assumption that since they like to cook...

In the early 1990s before he was a professional ice hockey defenseman and Olympic medalist, Aaron Miller studied business at the University of Vermont and wrote a business plan for a sports bar.

The franchising industry has undergone many changes since the concept took off fifty years ago, and one of the biggest changes is the opportunity for multi-unit ownership. This is where the franchisor grants a franchisee the right to...

During this year’s IFA Legal Symposium, I have the privilege of   moderating a plenary session panel discussion entitled “Franchise Dispute Resolution: The Judge’s, Arbitrator’s and Mediator’s...

THE mood of executives at retail firms normally moves in lockstep with that of their customers. But in America the news on May 25th that consumer confidence had reached its highest level in two years left them oddly subdued. Consumer...

The hottest opportunities in franchising are new and old. Services that cater to children or seniors will be among the most significant opportunities in franchising over the next five years, says Rob Bond, president of the World...

It's the kind of franchisee-backlash horror story that keeps a franchisor up at night. Last December, an independent association representing half the 1,800 franchisees of the Super 8 hotel chain threatened legal action to overturn an...

What's a franchise?

A franchise is a license to use a trademark in exchange for payment of fees or royalties and involves some material assistance from the trademark owner. The typical business franchise provides the franchisee...

The term franchising involves a relationship between two parties, the franchisee and the franchisor. We will start with the franchisor; they provide the guidance for the business, have an identifiable brand name, a substantial supply...

Think franchise opportunities are limited to fast-food chains? Think again.

Sure, the traditional fast-food favorites are still going strong, but some interesting alternatives are popping up as well.

Owning a franchise is generally considered as the safest route to success for the aspiring entrepreneurs compared to an independent business. This can be due to the high success rate of the franchise business opportunity because of the...