There are only four ways to go into business. You can start a business from scratch. You can buy an existing business. You can become a consultant. You can buy a franchise business. The latter, buying a franchise, is the option which allows you to buy a pre-established operating system that reduces the risk.

What if I could tell you there is an expert available, that will help you identify your business objectives, guide you through the selection process, provide valuable insights and provide decision-making data, all at no cost to you, FREE.

Franchise consultants are professionals that do just that. Independent from the franchisor, they can show you the process of buying a franchise. Who pays? Well, its the franchisor who pays the fees. Franchisors from all industries, both large and small, are bombarded with prospective franchise buyers. Unfortunately, over 90% of these inquiries fail to pass their initial screens. This influx of “tire-kickers” bogs down the franchisor and ends up wasting resources. Having a professional franchise consultant, pre-screen and qualify candidates is a welcome service.

Much like executive recruiters, franchise consultants screen through the pool of candidates and match skills, objectives, financial resources, and location to the potential franchise.

In addition to providing suggestions for franchise business ideas. Franchise consultants can offer various referrals for industry experts. Most consultants work with franchise lawyers, accountants and bankers who all specialize in the franchise industry.

Strongly consider utilizing the knowledge of one of the expert franchise consultants. Save time, call a consultant.

Everyone has a story when it comes to franchising, especially if they have been a franchise owner of a small franchised business, if they have worked in the industry, or if they have worked on the franchising side of things. Most professionals have stories about franchising, because they are lawyers, accountants, consultants, or vendors to the industry. Most all individuals in our society have a story about franchising because they partake of the goods and services of many of the franchising companies in America.

It’s nearly impossible, and I’d say it actually is impossible not to have been touched by the franchise industry if you are an American citizen. After all, there are 550,000 franchised outlets in the United States. And it accounts for one third of every consumer dollar spent in our GDP. If you tried to live your live without ever going into a franchise, or spending a single dollar there, the chances are you wouldn’t be able to do it, and if you did, you wouldn’t be able to have everything that everyone else has or the quality of life you sought for yourself and family.

For instance, you might have a difficulty renting a car, buying a car, getting home repairs, buying your lunch, and I think you are starting to see the point. Everyone has a franchising story, luckily, most all of them are good, but occasionally as consumers we meet with dissatisfaction, but most likely we are good to go and content with the service and expectations.

Eighty percent of the franchise small business owners report that they are either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their business. And did you know that the consumers in America have been voting with their dollar for the franchise industry in record numbers for well over five decades.

So, no matter what stories you hear, remember you have a story of your own about franchising, and you should remember this when you think about the industry that accounts for nearly 1/3 of our economy. Indeed, it is my hope that you will please consider this.

Before you go out and start shopping for franchises, before you start making lists of the industries, categories, types of franchises, or even the actual franchisor which you think you are interested in; I hope you will do a little soul-searching, and look in your mirror and ask yourself this question; “what will I do, and what am I willing to do to ensure that my franchise is a success?”

Although this may sound like a simple question, as a former franchisor founder, I can tell you that most people do not ask themselves this question, or they don’t do it seriously.

In fact, as a franchisor, I asked each and every one of my franchise buyers, what they were willing to bring to the table, after all, I already knew what we were bringing to the table, and it was listed in our Uniform Franchise Offering Circular or UFOC (the new offering circulars are called; FDDs).

So, think about this question; are you willing to give up some of your family life, as owning a franchise is not a 9-to-5 job? Are you willing to work under the umbrella of a team, and sometimes somewhat strict guidelines as to how you operate your business?

Super entrepreneurs, who have started many companies in the past, often do not make good franchisees, because they want to rewrite the system, change all the stipulations of the franchise agreement, and disregard much of the Confidential Operations Manual of their franchisor.

A franchisor has a perfect business model, and they don’t want it changed, because that would destroy the consistency of their brand name, and it would be met with challenges with customer expectations.

Why not do a little personality survey for yourself, do a little soul-searching, and really sit back and ask yourself; what am I truly willing to give up, and sacrifice to ensure that my franchise is a success?” You see, you must be willing to go along with the program, and therefore, franchising is not cut out for everyone. Please consider all this.

Do you enjoy working with your hands and wish you could own your own business? Does the idea of remodeling or improving a home make you feel good? If so, consider investing in your own home improvement franchise. There are many great businesses to choose from, depending on what type of work you desire to specialize in. Here are 5 great businesses to consider.

1. My. Handyman
If “Extreme Makeover, Home Improvement” is your favorite TV show, and you love being able to make old run down spaces look new again, then check out a Mr. Handyman franchise. Even if you are not handy around the house, Mr. Handyman can show you how to run an efficient business and hire others to do the work. This family-friendly business has been given a “world-class” rating and provides great training and support.

2. Budget Blinds
If you enjoy interior decorating and helping people to brighten up their homes, then you should definitely consider Budget Blinds. They have a well deserved reputation among their customers and are highly recommended by Entrepreneur Magazine. Known for their convenient and friendly service as well as great support, Budget Blinds has become one of the fastest growing franchises in the industry. If you want to see a smile on your customers faces, become a Budget Blinds Owner.

3. Certa-Pro Painters
Do you enjoy take a bare wall and changing it to create a warm welcoming environment in a home? Consider becoming an owner of a Certa-Pro Painters franchise. Certa-Pro has been in business for over 15 years and has built a great reputation in the industry. The best part is they support you the entire way. Certa-Pro prides itself on maintaining a closer relationship with its franchise owners than any other franchise company.

4. Carpet Creations of America
Quickly becoming the #1 flooring franchise in the country, Carpet Creations of America is a great business. For those entrepreneurs who would like to start their own carpet and flooring company, Carpet Creations offers an outstanding training program and follow-up support. They specialize in providing flooring at a fraction of the cost of other flooring companies and the franchise fees are equally affordable. Creation Carpets of America began over 10 years ago as the idea of flooring experts Robert and Cathy Morse, and has grown to over 40 Independent dealers nationwide and still growing.

5. ShelfGenie
Providing designer cabinets and shelves is strongly becoming the way of the future as homeowners are no longer satisfied with cookie-cutter style cabinetry. ShelfGenie has become a leader in cabinet design and offers a fantastic opportunity in home improvement franchises. ShelfGenie is always looking for people who would like to succeed in their own business. This is definitely a business to check out.

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For most people looking into starting, running, and developing their own business, franchising is the best way to go. A franchise has the ability to take the headaches and hassles out of the business development process, and it is a great way to enter into the world of owning and operating your own business. Once you own a franchise the world of business ownership is open for you to take any road you want. You can increase your franchise ownership, buy more stores of that same franchise, and take the experience you have gained and start a brand new company, or even create your own franchise yourself. In all, franchise ownership is one of the best opportunities out there.

Why a Franchise?

1) Any person who has opened up a business will tell you that getting people to know who you are and what you are selling is the hardest part about starting a business. This one item monopolizes a large amount of your starting costs in the form of advertisement and networking. With a franchise, your customers will arrive at your store front knowing what they want, why they are there, and ready to buy.

2) Starting a business takes a lot of effort, time, and money. To just name a few things that need to be considered and taken care of is: product research and development, store design, demographic study for optimum store placement, inventory, store creation and design, business license, federal and state notification, accounting for all monies earned and spent, and payroll. Unfortunately, this is just the start and a franchise will help you with all of these things and more.

3) The franchise model has money making power and longevity. The ability to stay around and make money is an ability that I think we can all agree is extremely important in any business. Forbes magazine says that Franchises are the most successful business endeavor that can be undertaken by an entrepreneur. With that type of grantee, the only question is: Which one should I open?

Best Franchises to open?

The top franchises in the United States have held their high ranking spots for many years. The top five are 7-eleven, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds. If you can open one of these, you are almost guaranteed to be successful. In addition, these franchises have a large amount of experience dealing with many types of business owners.

If you have the want to start a business, but the capital for many of the top Franchises is too much. The best franchises to open are the ones that have least amount of upfront costs: Jani-King with a start up cost of 11k, Kumon Math and Reading Centers at 30k, and Subway at 25K.

In the end, the best franchises to open are the ones that you are most interested in and would enjoy the most. But remember, franchising is the best kept secret of the 21st Century!

Coffee franchising is the next big thing in business. Everybody loves coffee, and what wouldn’t be better than having your own franchise! Yet there are a few simple steps to getting started, now that you’ve decided that starting a coffee business is right for you.

Research! There are a lot of franchises out there, big names like Starbucks, and a few smaller names besides. What coffee franchising business you choose will say a lot about what direction you want to go. You can go all the way; investing a lot of money and time, or you can go cautiously and start slowly.

Where to set up your coffee shop once you get the franchise is another big step. There are a lot of places you can set up a coffee shop, from small towns full of coffee drinkers to choice locations in bigger towns. The location is really up to you, but there are some things to consider when placing it. Fit is one such consideration. Where would it best fit, and who would be the target customers? Where is the best location to place a coffee franchising business, and where would it fit in best? Another thing to consider is price. How much do you have to get started and what would your overhead be? How much should different products sell for, and can people in the neighborhood afford them? After all, if the prices are too high, people won’t shop there. You could also include other items along with the coffee such as gift items and books, or set up local book signings to drum up customers, as well as to give the coffee shop some variety. I promise you, your customers will love you for it! After all, it is a well-known fact that people like to read while they sip their coffee.

You can also choose between little coffee stands or big streamlined coffee shops. Coffee stands sometimes offer higher prices then coffee shops, but it can often be worth it. On the other hand, bigger coffee shops can offer a wider variety of products, as well as allowing other merchandise and inside seating. There are many pros and cons to each, but each can prosper in its own way and its own little niche market. You just have to find the right fit.

Now that you’re all set up, how do you keep the customers coming back for more? Including promotions in customer orders is one good way of guaranteeing repeat customers, as well as mentioned earlier, including other items for sale, as well as promotional items, featuring new local author’s books, etc. Another great way is fantastic customer service. If the people coming to your shop don’t feel loved, they won’t come back! Easy as that. And they won’t recommend your business to their friends, either! Word-of-mouth is half the battle of getting customers, after all. If you have good word-of-mouth and good customer relations, then you’re halfway there!

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Now I am by no means a Franchise Guru. I’ve never owned one, worked for one, or even considered one and for good reasons.

First, when I started my publishing and publicity business I wasn’t flush financially enough to pay the ‘freight’ on a franchise. Secondly, it seems too much like working for another corporate business to me. Things are done their way or no way, and you work for two – you and the piece the company takes. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be your cup of tea, because many entrepreneurs love franchises.

I’m not going to expound as a franchise expert, but rather I’ll give you the facts about the hottest ones to look at if you like franchises. Despite the status of the economy it seems the most stunning growth in franchises in 2004 has been in the senior-care segment. Seven senior-care companies ranked in the top 500 in Entrepreneur magazine have grown a total of 370 units in one year, and almost 39% in the past year.

Experts say that despite the large increases, this market hasn’t peaked yet. By 2010, 39 million Americans will be 65 or older, and that’s almost 20% of the North American population. About 30% of non-institutionalized seniors live alone, per the Dept. of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging. Many of them need extra help at home or companionship.

As the nation ages and boomers turn 60, this segment of the population will grow. ‘elder care will replace child care as the number one social issue,’predicts Jeff Huber, vice president of Home Instead Senior Care – a franchise that grew from 356 to 448 units this past year.

The next hottest area is kids. Parents want their kids to have fun and be well-educated and will spend money to ensure this in good times and in bad. Children’s products and services segment of franchises have grown steadily over the year and become one of the top 5 overall categories in term of unit size in 2004.

What’s changed? Spending on children is now being fueled not only by baby-boomers, but by Generation X – a group that has $736 billion in spending power. Another change in the market in the past 25 years is the increase in dual-career families. According to some in the industry, this is an ideal time to enter the education sector of franchises for kids.

Kids’ fitness programs are also growing. Caryn Burnier, franchise sales director with Stretch-N-Grow International, says they have added 50 units last year. ‘We expect to see more children enrolled in fitness programs in the coming year,’ says Jerry Perch, vice president of sales/marketing for the 92-unit Kinderdance International Inc. franchise.

Last, but not least, the tech industry is rebounding from its nose-dive in the past. This is because there is an increased dependence by people and businesses on their technology. People need advice on what to buy and what not to buy, and what is the proper solution to their particular need.

Computer Moms International Corp., a training and support provider, has seen a shift in its client base since it started 10 years ago. The greatest demand for services from the Computer Moms group has shifted to the business market, and the group added 30 franchises last year. The experts claim that the demand for quality full-service training and tech support is vast now and expected to become greater.

Following on the heels of those three areas are franchises in the area of Home Improvement, Fitness, Income Tax Preparation, Business Consulting, Specialty Ice Cream, and Coffee. So, if you’re in the market for a franchise type business pay heed to the up-and-coming hot leaders and let somebody else go for the 7-Elevens.

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 is that you should stick by your franchisee till the end and give them all the support and training possible to get them on their feet. This is very important so that you can not only keep your brand name up but also give your franchisee confidence that you are a branded company that sticks with uniformity. Most of the people who buy franchises check for training and support as part of the package.

You will also have to consider the interests of the people who are interested in the particular industry that you have your business in. to attract the buyers that you want, you have to put up franchises for sale in the way that they will find your offer attractive.

As a successful salesperson for your franchise, you will have to reflect your personal goals and interests along with your beliefs about your company. You should believe that your company is the best when you are selling your franchise. You should focus on the strong points of your organization when you sell your franchise.

There are many competitors who put up franchises for sale. Your proposal to the people, other than businessmen who are interested in buying a franchise should be unique and stand out. With the right amount of effort and a proper valuation from an attorney to tell you how much your company is worth, will be enough to tell you how much you can sell the franchise for. He should be able to give you a good estimation of what to expect and what you might need to improvise on. Buying a franchise is an amazing idea that you can make a good profit from provided you follow the correct guidelines and choose the right company to make dealings with.

You may be wondering what a Filtafry system is. The businesses that use this system are saving money and passing that savings on to their customers. They have found a cost effective way to reduce the cost of running their businesses without lowering the quality of the services they provide.

Many types of businesses use the services of a Filtafry. Among these are fast food, casual, and fine dining restaurants. Virtually any place that uses a deep fryer can save money using the services of a representative of the group.

The way that Filtafry works is that a representative comes to the business. They bring a filtering system with them that works in stages. First, the temperature of the oil in the fryer is taken to make sure it is hot. Next, the oil is siphoned out of the fryer a passes through the first filter that removes any large items from the oil. The second filter that the oil passes through cleans and polishes the oil, and it is ready to be returned to the fryer.

While the oil is being processed, the technician cleans the fryer with environmentally, non-toxic cleaner. They also vacuum any debris from the bottom of the fryer. After the fryer is clean, the clean oil is returned to the fryer and you are ready to begin deep frying.

The Filta Group has been servicing business in twenty-six countries for over fifteen years. They began servicing eating establishments in the US about seven years ago. They recycle oil for over 5000 restaurants, hospitals, and other facilities each week and have recycled over 250 million pounds of oil from these businesses.

An eating establishment that uses their deep fryer on a regular basis can spend a lot of money on oil each week. In some cases, the oil will be reused several times and diminish the quality of the food that is being served. But, with a weekly visit from the mobile on-site service technician, the cost of replacement oil and the quality of food will not be an issue.

The technicians offer a comprehensive fryer management service that includes temperature calibration of the fryers, oil filtration and vacuuming of the fryer on a schedule that is set up for your convenience. There is no down time while the oil is being recycled because the oil does not have to be cooled down to be processed through the filtration system.

There are other benefits to using Filtafry as well. The life of cooking oil is greatly extended and the filtration process removes up to 99% of the carbon from the fryer. With the fryers kept cleaner, the odors in the kitchen are greatly reduced.

This system is both cost effective and environmentally friendly. The filtering cartridges are made from recycled paper and the debris from the fryers is disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. The technicians of Filtafry are well trained and can answer any questions that you may have about how the system works and the kind of schedule that will best meet your needs.

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You might have been considering buying a franchise as a way to become self employed and have a more stable financial future. There are many questions that you may have, but before you really get into researching the different options out there for you in franchises, you may want to consider first, the questions that you should be asking yourself.

Having a great attitude about franchising is the very first thing to bear in mind. If you are a determined, intelligent and self motivated person, you will find that there is a more smooth transition from just thinking about franchising, to start up, and getting your business off the ground. Being able to think and plan ahead will help, as well and being able to accept that there is a lot of hard work involved will definitely be in your favor.

Understanding that running your own franchise is going to be a great deal of work, and that may impact your lifestyle is also another thing that many people do not consider. In the start up phases, it can sometimes be a bit stressful, so making sure that you have the full support of those close to you is also something to think about and be sure that everyone understands how this may change the way that you live your life.

Consider your funding options, also and bear in mind that your credit may be a factor. Whether you decide to repair your credit a little or if you decide to look for other means of obtaining start up funds, factoring in the cost is important before you decide on which franchise you’d like to look into.

You can save yourself a great deal of time and effort just considering what your start up budget may be insofar as what you can afford and find funding to manage.

Think about the long term- and what you could honestly feel good about doing for a long time. If you find that there are some things that are just incomprehensible to you, that you just absolutely could not do- then don’t seek out those franchises in that industry.

It seems obvious, though, that you should also consider the reasons behind that and if there isn’t some room to compromise- so, think about the ways you could see yourself doing something longer term and if you find that you have some ideas that just really appeal, seek out more options in those.

After you’ve really decided you are set on becoming a franchisee, then you begin to look into the different franchises, themselves. If you have some that have really caught your attention, then proceed to research them a bit further. Talk to those who are involved in the franchise itself, presently and figure out what they are doing to succeed and how their experiences have been. Talking to current franchisees is always a great way to gain insights as they have more experience with being successful with the franchise.