Lets Start A Franchise by James Copper

 Put yourself in a situation where you have decided to start up your own carpet cleaning business. The next step is to ask yourself an important question - Should I go with a franchise or remain independent? This decision should be made with great care after exploring all the factors involved as it is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make in terms of your career. In this article you will pick up some tips that will help you to make up your mind.

Although franchises have some great opportunities attached to them and also many advantages they can also have limitations and disadvantages like anything can. It is because of these drawbacks that franchises are not suitable for everyone. One drawback of franchises is the cost. You will have to pay franchise fees for the whole time your business is up and running and this could cost you a lot if you are not making much of a profit from your business. You will also need to buy all the cleaning products and other equipment that you will need, however quite often you will be required to buy them from the franchiser at premium prices. If you were to do all of this and then drop out of the franchise you would need to start over from scratch as the customers that you would have obtained over your time with the franchise would belong to them and you would not be allowed to take any of them with you.

Your idea of franchises is most likely to be very negative right now but there are also some advantages to them. Firstly, you have a significantly higher success rate when you choose a franchise as they have already learned how to run the business and market products and services. All you would have to do is follow their business model and you are pretty much guaranteed success in your career. If the franchise is widely recognised this could also help you a great deal. If you want to enter the water damage restoration area name recognition is also very important if you want to become a preferred vendor of the insurance companies.

So that is everything you need to know about franchises at this decision stage. But what id you want to go down the route of independence? This will also have a number of advantages for you. For instance, you are able to choose and use the equipment and chemicals that you want to use and you will save a lot of money on these as you can search around for a place that offers you the best prices. The biggest advantage however, which you would not get if you chose a franchise, is that you would keep all of your profits.

Again however, there are disadvantages attached to the independence route. Firstly, you have to teach yourself in both the skills and business sense. All the mistakes that a franchisor has already made in the business, you will probably make yourself and will then have to repair the possible damage yourself and this could cost you a lot of money, time and resources. You might not think that you will make mistakes but there is a very high probability that you will.

The path that you take will determine the rest of your career and so it is very important that you choose the right one to take and the one that will suit you the most. Take time and care to weigh up all of the options available to you and then choose which one you think will be the right one for you. Even if you find one that you think is for you, ensure that you look at all the options and keep that one in mind, just in case there is another possible route that you may find later. Good luck!

James Copper is a writer for http://www.cecwine.co.uk where he writes on all things wine and spirit related

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Advantages of a Business Franchise Opportunity by Nazir Daud

 A Franchise Opportunity has numerous benefits over starting a business on your own. The major reason why it pays to become a franchisee is that you are much more likely to still be trading profitably after five years of trading. Over eighty percent of new start ups fail within the first five year!

When one buys a business from a franchisor they receive a detailed training programme. This covers all aspects of running a business. The training programme is critical in ensuring that your business runs smoothly.

 It is the franchisors interest for the franchisee to succeed as then they receive a higher royalty payment. This also serves to attract new people to their franchise system. The more that succeed with the business the easier it gets to attract quality people.

The franchisee also benefits from all the logos, stationary, brochures and websites that have been created. Someone starting a business on their own has to spend a huge amount of time in just creating a brand image.

Most lenders are willing to offer a higher percentage of funds required to start a business to potential franchisees than if they were starting a business on their own. This is because they recognise the potential of buying a franchise. They also have to protect their investment in the business and realise that their money is much more likely to be repaid by someone buying into a franchise.

The franchisor even assists the franchisee with the territory. Usually this advice is free unlike when one starts a business on their own. The market research and advice on territories likely to succeed might have cost the franchisor a serious amount of cash but is yours for free if you buy into his systems.

The franchisor will even help the franchisee to secure planning permission using their knowledge acquired through years of experience. Trying to tackle this maze on your own without paying for specialist advice is a minefield. Paying for specialist advice costs a small fortune which is why most new business owners do not do it.

By buying into a franchise business almost nothing is left to chance. Your stock levels are predetermined by the franchisor and have been based on years if not decades of experience.

Starting a business is only the first phase in achieving profits. This is where the ongoing support and further training if required comes in. Most franchisors provide further training at favourable prices. They only usually try and recuperate their costs without trying to make a profit on their training programmes.

When it comes to advertising on a national scale the franchisor can achieve true cost savings. They can negotiate national rates and then spread the costs throughout their franchise network. The franchisee does not need to worry about the logistics of creating an advertising campaign and benefit from the expert knowledge of the franchisor.

The downside is that even though you are running a viable business that generates a decent profit, it is unlikely that you will ever create a new empire. Starting a business on your own has huge risks but the potential upside can be huge if you enter the market at the right time and in the right place.

In my opinion though, the benefits of buying into a franchise far out way the risks in starting a business on your own. If you are seeking to reduce the risks associated with going into business on your own then a franchise business might be right for you.

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal Business Franchise Opportunity
Business Franchises and UK Business Directory
 Business Franchise Opportunity
 Ireland Business Directory & Franchise Opportunity

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Advantages of Purchasing a Franchise Business by Budda Oliver

 Purchasing a franchise business may be a good option to consider if you want to have your own business, but are not sure how to go about doing it. Purchasing and running a franchise is just like owning your own business, but it provides you with excellent tools, resources, and other advantages that do not come with starting a company from the ground up.

A franchise is basically a license to use an existing company’s name, trademarks, products, services, and other resources in return for agreeing to use that company’s existing business formats and provide a percentage of your franchise’s income and earnings. For the parent company, or franchisor, selling privileges to a corporation provides a way to expand the market share quicker, and less expensively.

The most appealing aspect of purchasing a franchise is usually the fact that most of the pre-opening work is done for you. When you purchase a business format franchise, you gain the privilege of not only being able to sell the parent company’s products or services, but also the right to use their established practices. These procedures may include training programs, marketing strategies, trade secrets, accounting systems, etc.

As opposed to starting your own enterprise from scratch, franchising allows you to take advantage of the parent company’s already established reputation and recognizable assets. The main advantage of this is that you will be able to more easily be able to attract customers from the start, which is one of the biggest obstacles faced when starting a company from the ground up. For example, buying a McDonald’s restaurant will no doubt provide you with a much larger instant customer base than you would have if you were to open an independent hamburger restaurant.

In addition, most of the financial aspects of running a venture will be more clear-cut. The franchisor will be able to provide you with details of both start-up costs and operational costs, taking most of the guess work out of running a corporation.
Besides name and product or service recognition, your franchisor will also be able to provide you with many other benefits, such as industry experience, group purchasing power, training programs, and ongoing support, just to name a few.

As with any business venture, there will be risks in opening a business. However, having a proven and reliable franchise system helps to minimize these risks. Good franchisors will be able to provide you with proven systems that are easily replicated in order to provide consistent results.

Purchasing a franchise business should be thought of as entering into a partnership. As long as you can be a good business partner to you franchisor, your franchisor should do everything possible to ensure that you have a successful, profitable venture. This kind of support is what makes running a franchise business so advantageous to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of FRANNET.  The franchise buying expert provides consultation services to walk clients through the process of purchasing a franchised business. For more information on their Franchise Experts please visit their website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Franchise Business - Frequently Asked Questions by Nazir Daud

 In this article I cover the most frequently asked question about the franchise industry, the opportunity costs, and my responses to the question posed.

Question: What is franchising?

Answer: Franchising is where you buy the rights to a business concept, trademarks & know how. In return you pay a franchise fee and a percentage of your profits.

Question: What is a franchise?

Answer: A franchise is, in its simplest terms, an agreement between the franchisor and the franchisee, whereby the franchisee has the rights to use the logos and trademarks of the franchisor and the ability to market the franchisors products. Both parties commit to a legal agreement which protects both their interests. The franchisee usually pays an initial franchise fee and ongoing royalty payments.

Question: Is it better to buy a franchise opportunity or start my own business?

Franchise Ownership: A Balanced Look by Wade Robins

 The idea of owning a franchise is, for some people, the ticket out of the rat race and into a world of financial independence and being their own bosses. For others, the idea of owning a franchise means risking not only a regular paycheck, but having to put up their own money and then agree to run the business according to someone else’s guidelines.

Both Sides

Somewhere in between those extremes is the reality of being a franchise owner. No one who knows the franchise business can honestly say there is not a tremendous amount of work involved, and that the success or failure of an individual franchise operation will depend on how willing the franchisee is to do that work.

On the other hand, because most prospective franchisees are pre-qualified before being accepted, and because they will have a good amount of their own finances tied up in the franchise, they are more highly motivated to make the business work than they might have been when working for somebody else.

And, because buying a franchise means they will be entering the business world with a proven product or service, which is already familiar to a large number of people, they will not be faced with trying to find and keep a customer base. As long as they have a good location for their franchise--and many franchisors offer assistance in getting their franchisees located--and provide customer service up to the franchisor’s standards, new franchise owners have an opportunity for early success.

Many Opportunities From Which To Choose

The wide variety of franchise opportunities now available means that franchising is now an option for more people than ever before. Franchising has grown well beyond the fast-food arena and now includes businesses like fitness centers, dollar stores, cellular phone stores, doughnut shops, and apparel stores. So people from many different business backgrounds are starting their own franchises.

Owning a franchise, of course, means that you’ll have to run it according to the training and Operations Manual which your franchisor provides, and that you will very possibly be required to pay your franchisor a portion of you monthly sales in fees. You may also have to make time for periodic company workshops, which can mean traveling long distances.

If there are other of your company’s franchisees in the area, however, you all might be able to split your local advertising costs. And because you’re all selling a branded product, your advertising budget should not be too high. Travel expenses can be written off.

If you are willing to work hard and within the guidelines set by someone else, a franchise could be your ticket out of the nine-to-five world!

However on the other hand, you have no control over the other people who happen to own the same franchise as you in a different part of town. All it can take is one single bad franchisee to bring the good reputation of your business down, causing you to lose sales and have to close the doors of your business franchise once and for all. When all is said and done though, if you want the responsibility of opening your own business but you have no idea where to begin, then a business franchise is totally the way to go.

You can also find more info on Franchise Consultant and Franchise Opportunity.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

What Franchises Look for in Franchisees

 When you buy a franchise business you are effectively going into partnership with the franchisor and becoming one of its franchisees. The franchisor gives you the right to operate their business model, distribute their products and services in return for an initial franchise fee and ongoing royalty payments. You will have to sign a franchise agreement and this is usually for a period of between 3 and 5 years. However, be prepared to pay a hefty price if you decide before the period has ended to terminate the contract.

The franchisor is looking for certain people that possess relevant qualities it deems necessary to manage their business model. For example, McDonald's is searching for people that are hard working and have a significant amount of money to invest. If you have some retail experience this might also work in your favour. Internet franchises like CityLocal are looking for people that already possess very basic computer skills, love spending time on the Web and enjoy meeting new people.

However, all franchisors are also seeking people that are healthy, competent, reliable, willing to take instructions and are compatible with their business model and plans for the future. The ability to handle pressure whilst working long hours, managing their own business is a requirement of mostly all of them as it is a very competitive world out there.

Often, some franchisors will deliberately not choose candidates that already have some experience running a similar business model. Although this might sound strange initially, the reason for this is that they do not want to have a franchisee that has already picked up bad habits in the industry. They would rather train a competent newbie into their way of working than somebody who might think that they already know better!

Some franchisors even prefer people that do not have too much of an entrepreneurial instinct. The last thing they want is to spend a lot of time and money training somebody only to find that the franchisee wishes to break their agreement and start a business in competition with them. Although they want you to be independent, some do not like it if you are totally independent!

The best way to find the right franchise for you is to start your search on the internet. There are many websites that focus purely on showcasing franchise businesses and other opportunities. You can spend your time reading one page intros of each business model before deciding to request further information from a selected few.

Once you have narrowed your list down to a handful, it is then worth going to visit them at one of the larger franchise exhibitions that are held throughout the country. This way, you can meet all of them in one day. Who knows, you might end up with a different business model altogether when you see all the different franchises being exhibited.

In the end, your success will mostly be based on your ability to cope with stress, learn new skills, adapt quickly and be healthy at the same time so that you can manage the business properly. Although you are more likely to be successful than if you start a business on your own, buying and operating a franchise is hard work, so think carefully before you sign on the dotted line.

Nazir Daud - UK Business Directory
http://www.citylocal.co.uk/
http://www.citylocal.co.uk/businessfranchise/
http://www.citylocal.ie/

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

A Franchise Business is Not for Everybody

A Franchise Business is Not for Everybody by citylocal

 If, like so many people, you are thinking of moving out, away from the office, away from the daily grind of working hard to make somebody else rich, and starting your own venture, then a franchise opportunity might very well be the answer. However, it isn't necessarily the right solution for everyone, and there are several things to think about very seriously before resigning from your day job.

A franchise offers you the opportunity to run your own business, decide on your own working hours, conditions and arrangements, either working from home, on the internet, in an industrial unit, on the road or on the high street. If you are fortunate, it will also mean working within an area in which you have some interest.

Perhaps you really enjoy working with children, and relish the idea of running nursery groups, inflatable party hire or such like, or perhaps you'd prefer the retail side of things, selling something you enjoy. From jewellery and makeup to electronics and gadgets, from computers to internet businesses, there is a franchise to suit almost everyone.

One of the easiest

11 steps to find your perfect franchise by James Grieg

 Step 1 – Get to know yourself

Before you do anything, you need to take a long, hard look at yourself and why you want to go into franchising.  Firstly, brainstorm what you want from a franchise – flexibility?  Work from home? A challenge? To work with a strong brand?  You also need to honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, your skills and your experience.  For examples, if finance isn’t your strong point then you need to make sure you can get adequate financial support from the franchise you choose.  It’s important for you to identify these things so you can base your future decision on them. 

Step 2 – Crunch your numbers

As well as knowing yourself, it’s essential that you know your financial situation – you need to be realistic about what you can and can’t afford right from the beginning and also the timeframe you need for accessing finance.  Figure out how much you can afford then choose your shortlist based on that, rather than choosing the franchises you like, then struggling to scrape together the money – starting off on the back foot will make it really difficult for you to succeed in the long-term. 

Choosing the right franchise by akhil shahani

 A business can grow in many ways. First of all, there is organic growth – or that which comes as a result of market expansion or from eating into a rival’s business. Another option is to grow inorganically, by way of acquisition of a rival business.

Growth can also be defined in terms of whether it is in the same line of business or in a related field. An example could be that of a fabric manufacturer either ramping up capacity to produce more textiles, or entering into the arena of readymade clothing.

Interestingly, a lot of businesses also step into an unrelated field – the motivation in many such cases is to better utilise existing resources. A lot of franchise businesses have germinated this way, when the owners find that they have spare space, people or infrastructure which can be leveraged in a new business.

If you’ve been planning to do the same, we’d advise you to consider the franchise decision with a lot of care. Don’t jump into a totally new business just so that you can keep the staff busy. Every franchise opportunity is different, and brings its own set of challenges. The makings of a good franchisor are discussed below.

Keenness to do business. This will be apparent right at the negotiation stage itself. If you find that the franchisor is laid back or complacent, you’re better off without them. For a franchisee to make money, it is essential that the franchisor act as the driving force.   A non-responsive franchisor company is better left untouched.

Adequate support. Since you’re entering unknown territory, it is the franchisor’s responsibility to ensure that you are adequately equipped to run a successful unit. And that means providing adequate operational training to your staff, implementing a solid marketing and communication plan for the brand and advising you on how to run a profitable franchise business.

In fact, some franchisors help with the real estate decision and financing requirements too.

Financial soundness. That’s a tell tale sign, if any. Make sure you go over the financial strength of the franchisor company in great detail. Every franchisor will sell you the success stories of other franchisees – while you may listen to that with interest, you must also ensure that the principal company is itself strong enough to stand . Don’t assume that there’s always a sound company behind a strong brand.

Past history. A rapidly growing franchisor company might brag about how they’ve grown in recent years. That’s a red flag for you – numerous sign-ups are usually accompanied by a number of break-ups. Check how many franchisees have left the business, and what happened to them.

At the time of reviewing the terms of the franchise agreement, be sure to understand the implications of a separation. Some franchisors refund a part of the fee to the outgoing franchisee once they find a replacement.

Attitude of other franchisees. That sums it all up. Be sure to speak with at least a couple of existing franchisees to get their perspective on what it is like to partner with the principal. If they seem satisfied on the support they receive, as well as the performance of their business, the opportunity is probably worth your consideration too.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Is a Franchise the Right Business Choice for You?

 Is buying an internet franchise the right business choice for you? Or, would you be better pursuing your own ideas and setting up as a sole trader? What are the risks of each, and how do they compare? There's a great deal of misunderstanding with many people confusing the idea of buying a franchise with starting up your own business. With so many franchises available today, this has opened the field up even more and made it even more perplexing!

The first thing to make sure you're aware of is what exactly a franchise is and how it will affect you, as well as how internet franchises compare to those in the real world. A franchise is an opportunity which allows you to trade using an established name or brand. You buy into the business and in return receive legal permission to sell and trade using the brand name that has already been established.

This clearly represents a number of advantages to you, not least of which is the fact that much of the hard work has already been done for you. The brand name has been established, the product thoroughly tested within the market place, advertising and promotion has already taken place and there is an existing level of consumer trust in the product and brand. These are some of the hardest challenges to try to overcome if you are starting up your own business from scratch, and so this can represent a much smoother and quicker way into trading than going it alone.

However, there are several points of which to be aware of. The first is the fact that you will be required to pay a large fee upfront. Buying into a franchise can cost a significant sum of money in most cases. If you don't have this capital in advance, then you will be unable to consider a franchise. The second aspect to be aware of is that any business which allows you to use its name and brand is going to have a vested interest in the way you do business.

After the time, trouble, effort and expense of creating the product, marketing it, promoting it and building up consumer trust, the company is not going to allow any franchise holder to spoil that company image. You'll therefore find yourself having to follow a number of guidelines and requirements, not all of which you may be entirely happy with.

Another point to be aware of is that as far as your expenses are concerned, buying into the franchise won't necessarily be the end of you having to spend money on the business. You may well be required to contribute towards future promotions and advertising campaigns, and although you'll be sharing the expense with the franchisor and all other franchisees, meaning that the end result will be far more than you could have achieved on your own, this will still entail you having to pay money when asked rather than when you choose.

Franchising can certainly offer a very easy and comfortable way into the world of business, and if you find something which fits in with your lifestyle, interests and preferences, then you can very well find yourself enjoying every minute of every day.

But running an internet franchise can also be a lonely endeavour. If you're used to working in a busy office environment it is important to be aware that if you decide to run your own, you may find yourself working on your own for a good deal of time. Of course, for some people this is highly preferable, and one of the reasons they enter into the arrangement, but it's important to analyse how important the social aspect of work is to you.

There are a number of online franchise opportunities available, with companies offering start-up business packages for much less than you might expect to find in the real world. To some extent, this is quite understandable, since many internet businesses thrive as a result of the low overheads; no shop, no rent and no products. However, there are also a number of scams online, and so, if you're interested in internet franchises one of the key things to do is to research thoroughly. There are plenty of review sites, and discussion boards, and you would do well to investigate many possible ideas before committing your money.

Naz Daud - CityLocal Franchise
Business Franchise
Franchise Advantages
Home Franchise Opportunity
Franchise Business Directory
Ireland Franchise Directory

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Is It Time To Franchise Your Business Opportunity? by James Copper

 Are you wanting to franchise your existing business opportunity? If so, then you will need to follow practical steps necessary to start the process of evaluating your business to find out if it would be possible to franchise. After you have decided on which route you wish to take, the next step is to produce a clear plan of action.
The first step is to analyse the unique selling point of your opportunity. Think about what makes your business different, and how is it better than your competitors businesses? Decide what the key factors of your business are, and also why would people buy into your concept? If you are able to name your unique selling points, then it is time to take the next step.

Now you need to make sure your name, logos, designs and systems are fully protected. This is where you can call in the help of an expert in trade mark protection. This is really important for any potential franchisees who will not want to risk money backing a business which does not yet have full trade mark protection.

The next step is to learn all about the franchise industry: how does it operate in your business category, and in your country? There are many websites which provide valuable information about franchising, so this shouldn't be too difficult.

It is advisable to make contact with all of the businesses that are franchising a similar concept to yours. It is essential to gain deep insight into their processes, methods of communication and overall approach to the market place. Some ways of doing this would be to request their marketing materials and brochures and actually meet their representatives. You should also analyse their key strengths and weaknesses and evaluate how our own franchise will sit in the marketplace.

After completing the above steps, you should decide if your business opportunity is still viable for taking the franchise route to the market place. If the answer is yes, then it is now time to get some professional advice from a number of franchising experts.

A franchise agreement needs to be made, as well as operator's manuals, brochures, online presentations and marketing programmes. A company that has a long history of advising new entrants to the franchise market will be invaluable at this point, and will ensure that your entrance to the franchise market is quicker, and that it runs smoothly.

Make contacts with the top lenders that specialise in funding, and secure terms and conditions for your potential franchisees. Negotiate the best rates and make sure that penalty clauses are kept to an absolute minimum.

After following all of the above advice, you should be ready to start your franchising business opportunity. It is essential that you take great care in choosing your franchises. The biggest mistake a franchise business can make is allowing anybody with money to buy their franchise. Each application should be treated as though it is an interview process and you should only choose the people who will treat your business with respect and manage your franchise successfully. Obtaining the best market price for your franchise and therefore rapid expansion is your desired outcome and to achieve this, you will want all of your franchisees to be successful.

Many new businesses enter the franchise market for first time and under-estimate the amount of hard work and effort involved before their first franchise is sold. If successful it can prove to be a very lucrative way of expanding your business in a short space of time, with a relatively short outlay.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

The Top Advantages Of Internet Franchises by Bizbroker1

 Being a franchise consultant I am often asked what type of franchise business would I recommend buying in these current challenging economic times. Although their are a number of important factors to consider and careful research to be completed before buying any franchise opportunity, my answer is that I believe right now that Internet based franchise opportunities offer a number of compelling advantages over more traditional franchise concepts or business models. Some of these advantages would include the option of being a home-based business, lower over head, affordability, little or no employees, more free time, and more.

Lower Overhead:

The vast majority of Internet franchise opportunities are going to be very suitable as a home based business. Consequently your overhead will be much lower than that of a typical retail franchise business because there are no lease expenses, or high fuel expenses commuting to your business location. In general, with reduced operating expenses and a lower overhead, a home based internet franchise has the right ingredients to be very profitable.

More Affordable:

In general, Internet based franchise businesses are more affordable to buy and develop than your typical brick and mortar retail or retail service franchise opportunity. This is because most are home-based businesses  and do not require the expense of building out a new retail store front, or have the equipment and inventory requirements of your typical food or restaurant franchise.

No Employee Headaches:

Unlike your typical retail or food franchise business, most Internet franchises are designed to be an owner/operator business with little or no staffing requirements. Consequently you should be spared the intrinsic headaches and challenges that most small business owners face today hiring, training, and managing multiple employees.  Not to mention the benefit of lower operating costs and higher profit margins with no employees to pay and retain.

Tax Advantages:

If you own a home based Internet franchise there are a number of legitimate tax deduction benefits that can potentially save you thousands of dollars a year by lowering your year end tax bill. I would advise you to speak with your accountant about the tax advantages of owning a home based business.

Better Lifestyle:

A home based Internet franchise opportunity should ultimately give you more free time in your day to day life by allowing you to make your own schedule. It should also hopefully give you more time to spend with your family and loved ones.

Ray Haiber is a franchise sales consultant and the founder of AZfranchises.com, a  franchises for sale  resource and directory. You can research and view Internet franchises for sale here.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Funding a franchise: Will someone please show me the money? by akhil shahani

Funding a franchise: Will someone please show me the money? by akhil shahani

 So, you’ve finally signed up that long awaited franchise? Congratulations! Any thoughts on how you’re going to find the finances to grow this new business? Stupid question – the worry lines on your forehead say it all. Buying a franchise may bring several advantages, and give you a head start on many counts; but sadly, when it comes to arranging the funding, you’re faced with the same uphill task as with any other form of business.

Funding a franchise involves arranging resources at different levels and times. At the outset, you may have to pay a fee to the franchisor, which secures you the right to use their brand, sell their products in a certain territory and so on. The size of the franchise fee can vary significantly, and is usually directly proportional to the strength of the franchisor brand. Try to negotiate a staggered payment with the franchisor, mapping revenue inflows. Once you’ve handed over this check, it’s time to worry about another one. If you own the business premises from where you intend to operate the franchise, good for you! For those less fortunate, it’s time to find a suitable location and the money for making advance rental or security deposit payments. Not to mention, a broker fee. And we haven’t even talked about doing the interiors yet!

Costs of equipment and working capital make up a large part of funding a franchise.  While there’s no getting around the expenditure, securing favorable terms of credit from suppliers can go a long way in easing the cash flow. Make sure you evaluate at least a few vendors to ensure that you’re not being ripped off. Also, look for opportunities to buy in bulk at discounted prices. Leasing, rather than buying equipment can work in some cases, but not all. “Negotiating Business Equipment Leases” by Richard M. Contino,  under the Professional and Technical books category can give you a better perspective.

The strategies we discussed above will help some, but funding a franchise takes a lot more. Unless you already have the resources to support the venture for a year or two, there’s no alternative but to borrow. If you’re going to take a bank loan, be prepared to hand over a copy of a detailed business plan, along with plenty of other documents. Our previous write-ups on how to craft a business plan, and the Ultimate Business Planner 3.0 could come in handy at this stage.  Also, visit our Finance section to find out more on the procedures associated with a loan application. Your chances of securing the loan will depend enormously on the collateral you can provide, your previous credit history and your personal and business reputation. In any event, you will have to fork out about 25% of the requirement from your own resources.

If you’ve decided to take the equity route for funding a franchise, be prepared to answer some stiff questions from prospective investors. There’s more on this in our earlier piece titled Equity Financing.

A piece of advice – in general, you will find that funding a franchise becomes easier when you seek the help of the franchisor. A well established franchisor brand will usually have a system in place to help you along – this may include tie-ups with financing institutions. They will also help you build a business plan and financial forecasting model, based on the actual experiences of other franchisees, so you don’t have to plod your way through all by yourself. And last, but by no means least, projecting the strength of an established brand to prospective financiers will only help any quest for funding a franchise.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

FINDING THE BEST FRANCHISE STARTUP FOR YOU by akhil shahani

 It would be a good idea for you to open a franchise if you want to be self-employed but want to get into the industry with a business that is already a recognized one.
Franchises are of three kinds consisting of services, products and wholesale distribution. There are certain factors which you will have to take into account before deciding on the type of best franchise startup you should open. These factors include the things you like to do, the amount of capital you have and your experience in the industry.

So if you want to start a new franchise then you will find the following information useful and informative:

1.    Interest - The first and foremost thing which you need to do is find out where your interest lies. You have to think of this very carefully because you should be interested in working in the franchise that you are planning open.

2.    Type - Secondly, you have to decide (before you carry out your franchise start up plan) on the kind of franchise that you want to open. As discussed above, franchises are of three kinds and you should find out which kind of franchise is suitable for you. Of course, the kind of franchise you open would depend on the first point that I mentioned above, i.e. it will depend on your interest.

3.    Capital - I am sure you know that you would need quite a huge amount of money to pay as a one time fee to the company or firm whose franchise you want to buy. Such a sum will not be paid back to you in the future. You have to decide from where you would obtain this lump sum for your best franchise start up.

4.    Plan - Having a properly plan is of utmost importance if you want your new franchise business to carry on smoothly. Plan in advance so that you won’t get in to any kind of problems in the future.

5.    Selection of site - You should have site in mind where you intend to open the franchise. If you have a property of your own then you can open the franchise in that property otherwise you would have to look for a property to run the franchise. 

6.    Compliance with all legal formalities - Starting a business will require you to comply with all legal formalities. You would have to prepare documents as required by law and fulfill all the necessary requirements.

7.    Placing ads - It is not possible for you to run the franchise alone. You will need help and for this you can ask your family members to help you or you can place an advertisement on newspapers to attract potential employees for the jobs.

8.    Training - Having selected the candidates for work, you will have to determine whether they will require any kind of training or not. If you feel that training them would be important then you would have to provide the necessary training.

9.    Managing the business - Do you have the skills and knowledge required to manage the business? You may be the owner but it is not necessary that you have the skills required to run the business. If that’s the case then you can appoint a manager with the required skills and knowledge to run the business for you on your behalf.

10.    Dedication and hard work - Last but not the least, you and your team would have to work hard to achieve success and carry on the operation.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Starting A Franchise: Better Know Which Type You Want by James Copper

 One of the greatest decisions of any entrepreneur is in the choice of franchise that you buy in to. Therefore, there is a lot of planning and researching that needs to go into the process before deciding on a final franchise.

You need to have goals to work towards. For example, think about why you want to start a business and what you expect to get out of it. You must also think about if you will have the commitment to the business throughout as it can be a long and hard process at times.

Buying info a franchise may cost more or less money than you originally expect so make sure you know what financial requirements are expected of you and if you can afford them. This includes franchise fees, royalty payment terms and other expenses that you may have to pay along the way.

In order for your franchise to be a successful one you must ensure that you have the right qualities and skills. To do this you will need to look at your previous achievements and experiences and assess you areas of strength from these. There are certain maths and English skills that you need to have to become a franchisee of the Subway restaurant chain. These will be tested before you can become a franchisee. In is advised that you choose a franchise to buy into that can leverage your strong points. Look at the background of the franchisor as you do not want to take up their offer if they have a history of being unreliable and unsuccessful. You will also want to work for a franchisor who treats their franchisees well and gives them support and training throughout the whole business process. You should definitely talk to other franchisees in order to get an idea of how that particular franchisor works before applying to the franchise opportunity.

There may be restrictions within the business that you need to be aware of in terms of outlet size and restrictions on territory. It is advised that you familiarise yourself with these when making your decision. Agreements that you are required to sign will list out rights and obligations of both you and your franchisor and these should be read very carefully, if possible with legal opinion.

Franchise Offering Circular is the franchisor's disclosure document and you should make sure that you ask to have a look at this before you sign up as a franchisee. Reading this will help you to evaluate the financial stability of the franchisor and therefore see if they are financially capable of supporting you as a franchisee. It is law that you are given this document to read at least ten days before you sign up to the franchise.

So, before deciding to start up your own franchise, ask yourself these questions:

- Is training required before starting?

- Where is the best place to start up a franchise business?

- What equipment will be needed in order to start up th franchise?

- How many people will be required to start the operations of the franchise?

You will also need to consider all the risks that you may be open to throughout the business process as this will help you to minimize these risks and make your franchise business a success. You may like to get some professional guidance when choosing a franchise.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.newcareerskills.co.uk

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

The Real Costs of Owning a Franchise by akhil shahani

 So, you want to own a franchise but are wondering what it would cost you to start one. Read on and get the scoop on the actual cost of owning a franchise. Like all things in life, you have to pay a price for owning a franchise ¡V remember, there are no free lunches.

The price tags for franchises vary depending on the type of business you choose, with mobile and home-based business franchises being the most affordable category:
„X    hotel franchises: $4 million to $6 million
„X    full-service restaurants: $700,000 to $3.5 million
„X    fast food restaurants: $250,000 to $1 million
„X    auto repair: $200,000 to $300,000

There are different types of costs involved in owning a franchise. While some of these costs are typical expenses that you would expect to pay in any small business, there are other costs unique to franchises. This is the price to be paid for the added value a franchise presumably brings to your business venture.

You will incur both initial and ongoing costs. The initial or upfront costs include:
„X    Front-end franchise fees: You will have to pay an upfront fee for any franchise that you choose. This fee can range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more. In exchange for this fee, you receive the right to use the franchisor¡¦s name and business concept. In most cases, you also receive a certain amount of training from the franchisor.
„X    Initial investment: Apart from the franchise fee, you will need to have some amount of money readily available to you to meet your initial setup and working capital expenses. Depending on your business, you may need as little as two to three months worth or as much as two to three years¡¦ requirement of working capital. You can get an estimate from the franchisor as to how much this amount should be.
„X    Other expenses: You will have to pay professional fees for legal services  and operating licenses; and things like insurance, employee training, inventory, rental and equipment will also cost money.  Depending on the franchise, you may also have to pay up advertising costs upfront and buy signage packages from the franchisor.

The ongoing expenses include:
„X    Royalty Fees: In addition to the upfront franchise fee, many franchisors also require an ongoing royalty fee. This fee is assessed on a percentage basis and usually ranges from 5% to 10%. In return for the royalty fee, you are entitled to participation in national marketing campaigns, ongoing training and territory rights.
„X    Other expenses: Apart from the royalty fee, you will also incur regular ongoing expenses on advertising, equipment maintenance, employee salaries, insurance and inventory.
It is better to be prepared with complete knowledge before you take the plunge. Before you make the decision to buy into a franchise, make sure you have a thorough understanding of all the costs of ownership.

Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Is Dry Cleaning a Great Business Franchise Opportunity? by Darren Kincaid

History

Robert Devaney, head of a dry cleaning plant that processes more than 2,000 shirts every day has worked hard to produce the perfect shirt. Th3is is why he recently spent $60,000 on new pressing machines that neatly press 200 shirts per hour, each ironed as if by hand.

Devaney got his start in the dry cleaning industry more than 30 years ago. He was pursuing a degree in speech pathology at Northeastern University when his father convinced him to join the family business. The father and son team purchased the Weymouth-based Dry cleaning by Dorothy in 1976. Later, Devaney founded the Fresh n’ Clean and Lapels franchises and opened 42 stores in five states. Both franchises have been sold.

Devaney's latest business endeavor, The Cleaner Spot has already established nine locations on the South Shore, and looks to
extend franchise business opportunities. The Weymouth plant employs 35 people and processes items from the three corporate-owned Drycleaning by Dorothy drop-off stores and The Cleaner Spot franchises.

- How casual dress trends have affected dry cleaning

Casual dress has heavily affected the dry cleaning industry over the last decade. The volume of clothes needed to be dry cleaned has greatly reduced. The industry has created new methods and equipment to handle casual dress. When a pair of khakis are pressed, for instance, it’s different than pressing a pair of wool slacks. Often, khakis are needed to be wet cleaned instead of dry cleaned, which makes them harder to press and finish. There are actually machines that grab the bottom of the pants and pull them down, helping to give a better press. Undoubtedly making that press much more popular with casual
clothing.

Casual dress has become more popular over the years, but doesn’t mean you should sacrifice a professional look. Meaning if you want to dress in khakis and a polo, but still desire that professional image, it’s best to have those items
professionally cleaned and pressed.

-Changes due to pollutant regulations

Environmental Protection Agency regulations have given us additional costs. Additional education and new equipment were also needed. Equipment manufacturers were needed to create more efficient equipment - equipment that didn’t harm the atmosphere. In our industry, they are referred to as closed-loop systems, so instead of releasing the odors into the atmosphere,
pollutants are all self-contained. This process also made cleaning much more efficient, so that less of the chemicals could do the same volume of clothing.

In addition, after the dry cleaning process is completed, a hazardous waste residue is left behind. Dry cleaners must then take that waste and put it into barrels, and then have it professionally removed. The newest thing in dry cleaning is environmentally friendly systems, but even plants that claim to have an environmentally-friendly process use chemicals that are considered pollutants. There’s actually no such thing as a completely environmentally-friendly dry cleaner, unless they personally wash everything.

- The Perfect Shirt

You won't see any difference in quality if you bring a sweater into 10 dry cleaners ...And you can't take a stain on a silk blouse to five dry cleaners, so this difference is very hard to see. But generally, what greatly sets dry cleaners apart Is the quality of their shirts, which is easily noticeable. You can very readily see any obstructions made to a shirt, therefore shirts are the competitive grounds between dry cleaners. 99-cent shirts are all over the place, leaving customers very attuned to the cost of shirts. For this reason, shirts are cleaned on mass production equipment. They are actually processed
at about 100 or more shirts per hour, as opposed to a dry cleaning item that’s hand-ironed and pressed is only done at around 15 or 20 an hour.

You could always make the perfect shirt if you had time to hand press every shirt, which doesn't happen anymore because of inefficiency and high price, until a new company (Japan’s Sankosha) developed a machine that can still turn out 150 to 200 shirts an hour - but as perfect shirts.

-What sets The Cleaner Spot apart

The whole dry cleaning and tailoring economy works on incentive, allowing Devaney to realize that no one cares about the business more than the owner, which is why every franchise of The Cleaner Spot is managed by the owner. The owner is always there, working 40 to 50 hours a week, so that you’re guaranteed the ultimate in service. The owner specifically inspects
every piece that is processed through that store so you are ensured to get the best quality. Our drop stores are small, 1,000-square-foot stores that we are able to conveniently locate anywhere. Dry cleaning is a business based on convenience, typically drawing customers that live and work near by, enabling us to target specific communities. Large dry cleaning plants are typically not allowed anymore in heavily populated areas because of chemical and environmental problems.

Darren Kincaid, a WSI SEO Expert, provides top quality but affordable website design, search engine optimization (SEO), internet marketing, pay-per-click (PPC), web hosting, and business management solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses in Virginia, the United States, and around the world. http://www.wsiSEOexpert.com

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Top 5 Characteristics Of A Successful Franchise Owner by Michiel Van Kets

Owning a franchise lets you own a business without the pitfalls normally associated with a new company as you have access to all the resources from an already successful business to help you. The business model has already been tested, any necessary training and advice is supplied to get you started and your supplier can be trusted. The likelihood of failing is minimal, as long as you fit the type of qualifications the franchisor is looking for you are ready to go.
So what are the essential characteristics that will make you a successful franchisee?

One of the most important aspects of running your own business is good people skills. Your customers and staff are who make your business a success and how you treat people will reflect on your relationships with them and your business reputation. Treat your staff and customers with trust and respect and they are likely to return the favor and remain loyal to you. Your staff will be more motivated if you show them you value their opinion and take time to listen to their point of view.

Running a franchise is not easy, it takes a hard worker and a great deal of drive to make it successful and reap the rewards. Those franchisees who achieve the most are not afraid of hard work and happy to put in the hours required to get the job done.

When you buy a franchise opportunity you have to be willing to follow the franchise system, it is there for a very good reason as it has been tried and tested before by many others and is known to work. Thinking you know better and fighting against the system will likely lead to failure. Trusting in the system by following it carefully can make your business accomplish much more, follow the marketing techniques and strategies that are proven to work and you can’t go wrong. Look over the system carefully to see if you think you can agree to the conditions before making any final decision.

It is essential to be highly motivated if you are considering owning a franchise business.  If you want to succeed it is important to ask all the right questions of the franchisor, effectively you need to pick their brains to get a good understanding of the business and how it can be run effectively. You need to have a good attitude towards work and show that you can work alongside your employees, whether it is in the office on the store floor or out in the field. If your employees see that you are not afraid to get your hands dirty it will motivate them to work harder and you will earn their respect.


The ability to delay gratification is also a key to a successful franchise business. Generally you should not expect to make much profit the first year, so if you are serious about owning a franchise business you will have to tighten your belt, don’t book any expensive trips and delay buying that new car for a year or two. You will also need to ensure you have sufficient working capital to tide you over in the first year and cover costs until you start to see a profit.

When a franchise is run correctly and has a motivated and energetic owner who listens to advice, then there is nothing to stop it from being successful. It takes a creative thinker and a determined character to achieve in this business, but you must also realize that there are people to help who have been through it all before and learn to call them for assistance. Owning a franchise is a full-time role and you have to be committed to joining in every task that needs doing. If you are interested in franchises for sale then look online to see what is available.

Michiel Van Kets provides article services for Ray Haiber, a professional Arizona business broker and franchise consultant with over 10 years of experience providing franchise opportunities throughout the USA. For further information on internet, restaurants and home based franchises for sale visit the website.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Go Global with Lesser Fees and More Support - By: -Emily Yung

iAremyhair Business Franchise: Go Global with Lesser Fees and More Support by -Emily Yung

 iAremyhair is a hair boutique and a one-stop hair loss solutions center. It offers high quality products and services that are customised to the clients’ individual needs.

One only needs to meet Peter Lim, iAremyhair’s dynamic founder and iAremyhair’s business franchise Director, to see why franchising a hair loss solution business should fit into any entrepreneur’s plan. Whilst the market is growing and iAremyhair offers a unique solution, it is Peter’s drive and enthusiasm that should assure potential franchisees of complete support.

Peter is passionate about transforming lives by restoring hope to individuals struggling with hair loss.
He oversees the business development of iAremyhair and works closely with his experienced and meticulous staff. Together, they assist clients by assessing various options and providing the best solution for their hair loss concerns.

The center specialises in Non-Surgical Hair Replacement System, a revolutionary and state-of-the art solution to hair loss. iAremyhair also provides effective hair treatment to manage thinning hair and offers specific complementary products to its clients.

iAremyhair is the first Hair Loss Solutions Centre to be accredited by Case Trust in Singapore.

It instills assurance through its patented and top quality products, reliable technology and stellar services.

One such product works by revealing a natural looking front hairline and the hair can be styled and parted to seamlessly blend with the scalp and hair. The system ensures customers of a comfortable, customised and convenient solution to hair loss.

iAremyhair also offers other products and services such as hair extensions, chemotherapy wigs and hair treatment. 

The hair extension service is ideal for clients with short, thinning or slow growing hair. In just two hours, clients gets longer and thicker hair. 

The center also provides wigs for customers with hair loss due to medical reasons. iAremyhair is also a trusted supplier of chemotherapy wigs for Singapore National Cancer Centre.

The hair treatment service is ideal for clients with thinning and damaged hair. iAremyhair uses the latest, most effective, patented and FDA approved products for treatment.

iAremyhair recently launched its international business franchise program which focuses on neighbouring countries, including China and India. The iAremyhair business franchise program is a unique hybrid that provides the benefits of a Master Franchise and an Area Franchise model. 

The “more support and lesser fees” is patterned after an Area Franchise format while the development schedule and territorial grants are patterned after a Master Franchise model. As a result, iAremyhair franchisees get a iAremyhair business franchise over a territory while being provided comprehensive support by the franchisor at a low investment. They can also enjoy the benefits of a recurring income franchise and it also provides an additional income for the existing salon business owner.

“iAremyhair is ready to share the experience through business franchise plans,” said Hsien Naidu, Director of business consulting firm, Astreem that consists of a team of franchise consultants, business consultants, branding consultants and marketing consultants. “The team at iAremyhair is set to develop and share their franchise business concept with investors seeking Singapore franchise opportunities through Singapore lifestyle franchise for their business investments.”

Emily Yung is a franchise marketing consultant in Astreem Corporation.  Astreem Corporation is a business and franchise consulting company that specializes in helping business owners to grow their business through franchise development and business matching locally and internationally. Astreem offers management consultancy, business development and marketing services.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

How Can You Put Up Your Franchises for Sale

By : Joanne Buxley    Submitted 2009-10-03 09:12:19

You have probably made your decision to expand the business that you are currently running. You can do that by selling franchises. It is rather a very profitable way to do business. You might have spend a lot of time and money making a business plan for the way you would have wanted to start up your new business. You can see big profits from running your business. What you need to is check to see if your company has all that it takes to sell franchises for your company. You can start by checking the credibility of your company and the kinds of offers you will get for the proven business model. Most of the companies that give franchises for sale, are in the restaurant industry. The other very popular type of business that brings in a lot of franchises are the home based businesses. If you have a business in either of these two models, then there is a sure fire way of you making a big profit from selling franchises for it. The brand of your company should be well known. You should be recognized. Most people who want to buy franchises for sale, look for the branding of the company that is offering franchises. The next important thing

Owning a Franchise: The Price Of Success by Zack Miller

A fundamental rule of business is that it takes money to make money. In other words, unless you are prepared to make an investment in a profit generating enterprise, the likelihood of success is remote. What differs, however, is the amount of that investment, and how it is leveraged. Some business opportunities provide a much greater degree of leverage, and hence a much better return on investment (ROI) than others.


We'll talk about some of these investment options in a minute, and they are pretty straight forward. What's not so clear-particularly to fledgling entrepreneurs however-are what some business people call "soft costs." Soft costs are expenses that are incurred but not actually paid for in terms of writing a check or handing over cash to someone. But they are very real costs just the same.


An example

How to Choose a Franchise Consultant by Candice Clem

Franchise consultants can be a wonderful asset to help you find a strong franchise opportunity that matches your goals. They can explore the dreams you hope to accomplish through franchise ownership and determine your skills and preferences so that the companies you investigate match well with you. With a good consultant, you'll save time and effort narrowing down your possibilities so that you can focus on the best.


Though these advantages can be great for you, they are not automatic or guaranteed. The simple truth is that anyone can call themselves a "franchise consultant" and many who have no experience or a successful process for working with candidates do. These people, referred to as "drive by" consultants in the business, are something you need to recognize and avoid.

So, how do you make sure you're dealing with a reputable franchise consultant you can trust? The following characteristics and qualifications will help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

• Franchise Industry Experience - The more
  

How to Work With a Franchise Consultant by Candice Clem

With thousands of franchise companies in over 75 different industries, there's a lot to choose from. Business concepts run the gamut from infant care to senior care and from dry cleaning to disaster clean up. Investments range from over a million dollars for a quick service food restaurant to $50,000 or less for a simple, home-based service franchise. Finding the business that's just right for you can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

That's why companies like FranChoice can be invaluable to those interested in buying a business. A franchise consultant can help you narrow your choices to businesses that will fit your needs as a business owner and will provide training and support to help you achieve success. But

How to Evaluate a Franchise Marketing Program by Candice Clem

Combining resources with those of other small business owners allows participants to save money and this strategy is applied frequently in franchising. A franchisor will be able to acquire both products and services for franchisees at a cheaper price by buying in bulk. You'll see this applied to raw materials such as food purchased for a sandwich shop and for items such as office supplies, equipment, software and furniture. Most franchisors also require a mandatory marketing fee of each franchisee in a system, and their combined fees are used to promote the brand on a national level, targeting the audience most likely to frequent that particular franchise.

Overall, these marketing programs are

Questions to Ask Franchisees - How to make the most of your due diligence calls by Candice Clem

Researching a franchise you are considering for purchase can be exciting - after all, this could be your new business and the beginning of a whole new career. However, it can also be a lot of work. You'll get much of your information from the franchisor but there will be other questions: How complete is the training provided? Will the initial marketing efforts be adequate? How long before I can start to see a profit? If only there was a way to find out the real answers to these questions . . . Wait! There is!

Talking with current franchisees in a system is not only the best way to really understand a franchise business, it is one of the most important parts of your due diligence. Those out in the field can provide the clearest picture of what it will like to be a franchisee of that franchise and can answer all the questions you may have.

When you contact a franchise company, the franchisor will provide you with their Franchise Disclosure Document which will list their current franchisees along with contact information. You will want to speak with a number of franchisees, preferably both successful and struggling business owners to get a good picture of the business.

To begin, prepare

Why Franchising Works! by Patrick Brown

Franchising is everywhere we look and has become an inseparable part of modern life. The proof that franchising is one of the most successful business trends is in plain sight for us to see. However, some individuals are still not convinced and require more substantial arguments. When you choose to open a franchise business, you become part of a larger franchise family. Make no mistake, the business is still yours and yours only. However, your franchise family is always there to lend a helping hand and get you up on your feet. Some of the more pragmatic applications of this principle are listed below. Your franchise owner will help you with:

* Brand name recognition

* Excellent training programmes and facilities

* Mass purchasing power

* Research and development

* Marketing materials

* Technical support

* Advertising assistance

* Ongoing business and financial advice

* Continued guidance and support

As is clear to see, starting a franchise business gives you a large head start in terms of all the things you need to do in order to make your business successful. So stop wasting time and take your first positive step towards becoming a highly successful franchise owner today.


Franchise Mart is an Australian franchise consultancy firm. Franchise Mart was founded by Steve Bianchini, an Australian small business owner with decades of experience in running and managing small businesses. Steve decided to use his experience to help other individuals find the right small business for them. For more information, please visit the company website at http://franchisemart.com.au/.

About the Author

Patrick Brown has been in the franchise industry for 12 years now. Whenever he gets time, he pursues his other passion - Writing. He writes Interesting and Informative articles about franchising and resources.

What Is A Franchise? by Nick Strong

Business format franchising quite simply is the documenting and replication of a proven business formula. In order to franchise a business it must not only be successful but remain established over a period of time.
The method by which the business suceeds should be written down in an operations manual and the brand protected by way of trademarking. This becomes the core of the franchise; its know-how and intellectual property. This is the critical formula as to how a market can be accessed and return a profitable business for those who follow it competently.
In essence is it the fundamental difference between running a Domino's Pizza or a Joe's burger joint. The brand of the franchise should be well recognised, with tried and tested support systems in place, and therefore be more likely to succeed.
The franchising industry has doubled in size over the last decade and has added over £10 billion to the UK economy. Interestingly, the only recognised industry survey conducted by the BFA and NatWest Bank reveal a consistent figure of around 90% of owners who are running self-employed franchised businesses being profitable year on year.
If you are interested in finding out more about franchising, check the British Franchise Association website or the many franchise directories that can be found online which can offer a range of options to match your budget and needs.

About the Author

Nick Strong is MD of Select Your Franchise and a leading Franchise Expert in the UK Franchise Market. Read more in Nicks Franchise Blog or visit our Franchise Opportunities site to find out more about Select Your Franchise.

Why People Buy Franchises

Why People Buy Franchises

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Should You Buy a Resale Franchise? by Candice Clem

Any franchise business, particularly one that has a number of existing franchise units and has been in business for a number of years, is likely to have already established units for sale. These resales can come about for any number of reasons. In some cases the franchisee has built up equity in his business and wants to sell it for a profit. In other cases, the franchisee needs to sell because he isn't successful or because or of illness or family issues. If there is a resale opportunity available with a franchise you'd like to join and in an area you would like to run a business, should you buy it?

There are certainly advantages to buying a resale business. If the franchise requires a retail location, by buying an existing unit you will avoid the unprofitable lag time between signing the contract with the franchisor and waiting for the site selection and build out process. Also, you will inherit a customer base to give you a head start. Finally, you will have records from this business so you will be better able to estimate how much money you can make.

The downside of buying an existing unit is that besides inheriting a customer base, you may also unknowingly inherit some very unpleasant surprises. If you find a franchise you want to join and there is a resale opportunity available, be sure to ask the owner of the unit following questions before you sign the contract:

1. What is the current owner's motivation for selling?
Keep in mind that you may not get direct or truthful answers,