For Beginners

As a franchisee begins the process of choosing a franchise to invest in, it is important to know what to look for if excellence is the goal. There are many franchises that will be "good enough" to stay in business and provide for the franchisee, but a smaller number that will truly be excellent.  Excellence … What Makes a Franchise Excellent?

An important part of the research process before investing in a franchise is interviewing the franchisor. As the owner of the parent company you will be working under, franchisors play an important role in the franchise process. The framework for the way a franchise runs and the level of support from the parent company are … Interviewing a Franchisor: 5 Questions to Ask

Franchises typically consume many hours a week for those who run them, and the typical licensing period is 10 to 20 years. When investing thousands of hours into something, it makes sense to choose a franchise type that will sustain your interest over a long time period. How do you know what kind of franchise … How To Choose the Right Franchise For You

When considering investing in a franchise, doing research is a wise course of action. One thing to look for as you research franchises is the level of risk and how it relates to the expected return on your investment. The generally accepted guidelines of franchising suggest that a lower level of risk leads to a … Risk vs. Return: Choosing a Franchise That’s Right for You

It’s important to carefully evaluate a potential franchise opportunity before deciding to become a franchisee. Although successful franchises have spent considerable time building infrastructure, a broad customer base, and a system within which individual franchisees can be successful, there can still be problems within the franchise or just aspects of the franchise system that don’t … How To Evaluate An Emerging Franchise

Before you can take ownership of a franchise, you must sign a franchise contract. Also called franchise agreements, these complex documents govern the terms under which you will be allowed to conduct business and the rules you will need to follow as a franchisee. Franchise contracts are usually detailed and lengthy, and are not something … 17 Things to Know About Franchise Contracts

Franchises may be less risky than independent businesses, but there are still varying degrees of success and profitability associated with being a franchisee. Some franchises are far more profitable than others. Here are some characteristics associated with highly profitable franchises: 1) An excellent location. For a business that sells to the public like a retail … 8 Characteristics of Highly Profitable Franchises

There are some definite advantages to buying a franchise with an existing, established unit rather than starting a brand new unit from scratch. Existing units have a customer base in place and have already done much of the work involved in starting up a new unit. Stepping in to take over existing operations seems like … 6 Warning Signs of a Struggling Franchise

Trying to figure out whether a franchise is a good opportunity can be complicated and difficult. It’s easy to get bogged down in details like the financials of the parent company, comparisons with other franchises or locations, or the minutiae of many franchise contracts. All of this is important information, but being overwhelmed does not … 5 Simple Ways to Evaluate a Franchise