Franchising can make you big money - that much is indisputable fact. But unless you’re very familiar with the parent company, franchising is also a very big risk for you. Just think about it: you’re sinking a lot of money into a company that you don’t even own, with no guarantees of success. Franchise deals also have a nasty tendency to sour or go haywire, which is why you should get a franchise attorney to help secure the deal.

Do You Really Need Help?

Chances are good that you do need help, especially with the financial and legal side of things. Franchises are basically agreements between you and the parent company, and the most you’ll get to show for your money is a signed contract. In most cases, the contracts are filled with legal jargon and confusing terms. Unless you can decipher all that legalese by yourself, a franchise attorney would be a very good idea.

Loopholes and clauses in contracts can be a very real threat to you and your investment. Even if you had a previous agreement with a partner or with the parent company, the other parties in the deal could go back on their word if the transaction wasn’t put into writing or if there was a loophole in the contract. Franchise lawyers specialize in sniffing out those loopholes, securing the transaction and your investment in the process.

Finding the Right Franchise Attorney

Not all lawyers are made equal, especially in the very diverse field of franchise law. Franchise law is actually a very broad specialization because it covers anything under the sun that can be franchised, whether it’s a major manufacturing operation or a small startup retail venture.

That’s why it’s a good idea to look for franchise attorneys who have experience in the specific industry where you want to franchise. They’ll be better at digging up the potential loopholes hidden in the contracts and agreements. Their familiarity with the terms is also a plus, and they know the nuances and finer points related to the industry that could get you into hot water.

An established law firm would be a sensible place to look first. That way, you’re assured that the attorney who’ll be helping you out has passed a certain standard in terms of training and ability. If you can’t find a firm that specializes in franchise law in your area, the next best thing would be one that’s established in the field of corporate law, which is a very similar specialization.

Referrals are the single best way to find good franchise attorneys. Go out and ask friends or colleagues who are franchisees themselves and then ask them for recommendations. That way, you can get feedback from people who personally worked with the attorney so that you can better judge if hiring him or her will be good for your venture.

Most lawyers, especially those with the same specialization, know each other through common law firms, colleagues, partners or a network of lawyers. Even if a certain franchise attorney is not available in your area, make inquiries anyway. There’s a good chance that the attorney will refer you to a friend or colleague who can solve your problems as well as he or she.

The simple answer to this article’s title question is “yes.” Though landscaping isn’t one of those essential services that survives recession by virtue of being necessary to human survival, it has somehow developed a track record of weathering recession impeccably well.

The History of Landscaping

A 2002 Business Wire article took a look at the landscaping industry in relation to a general economic downturn that year and concluded that, for reasons not entirely understood, the landscaping and gardening industry saw growth while others did not. And that strange fact fell in line with a precedent for the industry that had been set years prior. According to the Market Research Director of the National Gardening Association, “Gardening held its own in the recessions of 1982, 1987, and 1990-91.” Adding the downturn of 2002, in which the professional landscaping sector saw an astounding 12% growth, this unexpectedly strong market has seen growth in spite of general economic slowdown in the last four periods of recession. It doesn’t, therefore, make a great deal of sense to fear dramatic losses in this industry even if the economy is facing hard times again.

Working Hard in Spite of Being Recession-Proof

The fact that landscaping has historically been a strong industry in the face of economic decline doesn’t take away the responsibility to keep pressing your gardening business ahead, though. On the contrary, having an advantage in the market should encourage landscaping businessmen to push their franchises harder and make the most of them in a time of comparative strength. The following are a few ideas to help landscapers get that extra edge during recession.

Cut Costs

It’s really something that every business owner should be doing all the time, but particularly during a recession. The fact that recession doesn’t seem to hurt the landscaping industry doesn’t mean that it’s not hurting your clients, and if it’s hurting them, it’s not far from hurting you. The ultimate goal of cutting back expenses during this time is to pass some of the savings along to your customers; if you are spending less on the things it takes to make your business run, they are in-turn spending less to afford your services, which means they’re more likely to keep you around and recommend you to their friends.

Some easy places to cut back on costs are in gas and labor. Fuel, though prices are dropping, is still not cheap. The easiest way to restrict spending in that area is to keep your services to a local area as much as possible, which means restricting your advertising to just a few neighboring towns or cities. Drive too far to take a job and you will inevitably have to hike up your prices to cover the extra fuel expenses.

Likewise, making those longer drives to clients means you have to pay employees more for the time they’re spending in the car, which is time they’re not spending getting a job done. Those are essentially lost labor costs. It may be worth your while to keep certain teams in certain areas, redefine routes, or redraft employee earnings for travel time. You never want to dishonor your employees with sub-par compensation, but you also don’t want to scare away the clients who ultimately are paying their paychecks.

Make an Extra Push to Ensure Customer Satisfaction

Saving dollars and cents for your franchise business and for your customers is a great idea, but it can’t stand alone. What every client really wants, more than a good price, is to be appreciated, respected and well taken care of. If your home based business can provide both great rates and good service, you are sure to make the most of your natural recession strength.

It’s not uncommon for landscaping professionals to lack a certain customer-service charm because their minds are set solely on the work at hand. Ensure that all of your employees understand that interacting with and honoring their customers is a part of their job, even if that means giving them firsthand training in basic customer service skills. Similarly, make sure that you are interacting with your clients as well. Call them occasionally, make visits to check on projects, send feedback cards; do anything and everything necessary, as the head of the franchise, to let each client know that his business is necessary and valued, because it is.

Some Franchise Opportunities

After spending so much time discussing the strength of landscaping businesses in recession, it only makes sense to give some stage time to good business opportunities in the field. If you’re interested in investigating the industry yourself, here are some good landscaping franchises to consider.

NaturaLawn of America

Cheered by Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, and a long list of gardening magazines, this home business is one of the premier names in organic landscaping. Their complete line of biological garden treatments do what most harsh chemicals are designed for without the dangerous side effects, which is something Americans favor in the midst of its current trend toward organic products.

Spring-Green Lawn Care

This business for sale provides an exceptional opportunity to flex your entrepreneurial muscles by owning and operating your own yard-care franchise. Offering a full array of services from aeration to disease control, franchisees are eased into business at whatever pace works for them.

Weed Man

This name represents a real business opportunity with the largest lawn-care company in the world, one that is committed to their franchisees, to their work, and most importantly to their clients. With dominant purchasing power, work from home franchisees purchase only the best products, so that they can provide the best services.

There are a surprising number of ways to profit in the midst of a recession, and landscaping is definitely one of them. If green is your color, don’t let a little economic speed bump turn you away from the career opportunity of your dreams.

Business people everywhere have got a heavy case of the jitters under current economic conditions. Many already in business for themselves are bending under the weight of reduced consumer spending, and those who thought themselves ready to go into business are stepping back, not certain that now is the time to embark on a new business endeavor.

Making the decision to step out into business while things appear to be in economic crisis is a tough choice to make, one that often comes drenched in fear, but those who’ve closely looked at the vast array of industries available have a great advantage, as well as a stronger sense of promise. Why? Because though the economy as a whole is troubled, there are select industries that seem not to be inhibited.

One of those seemingly recession-proof industries is senior care. Regardless of how the real estate market, banking industry, and stock markets are doing, baby boomers are still getting older, and because they’re by far the largest generation of Americans the nation has ever seen, the demand for care is and will continue to become increasingly in demand. And, frankly, baby boomers are some of the wealthiest people in America, so they provide not only a demand for labor, but the financial strength to support it. With such a business opportunity just waiting for the right people to come along and take advantage of this dramatic need, here are some senior care franchises already in place to serve this population, and profit from it.

Home Helpers

According to Entrepreneur Magazine, this is the #1 franchise business in its industry. It also falls in the top 20 low cost franchises, top 25 home based franchises, and top 50 fastest growing franchises, making it a veritable champ among franchises of all classes. Part of what makes Home Helpers so successful is the wide range of clients that franchisees can serve: seniors, new mothers, and people with disabilities. And because franchisees oversee a team of aids instead of serving each client on their own, the potential for growth and income is as vast as the populations they serve. New small business owners are equipped with a proven business system; a name that is nationally recognized; strong marketing tools; ongoing training; cash bonuses; and a simple, work at home business with few overhead expenses.

Caring Transitions

Success with this franchisor begins at the level of the CEO, who, in the last 20 years, has built numerous franchising powerhouses that have been rated #1 in their respective industries. This same level of business strength has been hardwired into Caring Transitions, a novel, recession-resistant business opportunity that takes upon itself the onus for getting an elderly client’s estate in order as he makes the transition into a group home. With a proven business system and marketing aids in hand, franchisees work from home, liquidating unnecessary client assets, moving furniture and possessions to new living environments, and making transitions as smooth and painless as possible for clients and their families. Startup costs are very low, as are ongoing overhead costs.

Always Best Care Senior Services

Since the company’s inception in 1996, it has served the needs of over 100,000 seniors with compassion and integrity. Franchisees work directly with families to help find the most conducive solution to an aging parent’s need for assistance. Whether the best choice is in-home aid or moving the client into an inpatient facility, Always Best Care Senior Services provides whatever assistance is in the best interest of the whole family. The special feature that this franchisor gives to its franchisees is its pair of computer applications: the virtual office and the Always Best Care Senior Services intranet. With little more than a computer and internet access, the business owner is ready to take advantage of all possible business opportunities.

Right At Home

This home based business affords two excellent opportunities for exceptional earnings. As the name implies, one of those avenues of success is providing in-home care and assistance to seniors living at home. The other is offering temporary aids to group homes and nursing centers. In both circumstances, the franchisee is not the one providing the care firsthand, but rather the business manager, mobilizing trained professionals who then work directly with clients. For this reason, franchisees don’t need to have any history in the in-home service or medical fields; all a Right At Home home business owner needs is a mind for business success, the willingness to learn, and a heart to help others.

CareMinders Home Care

Like all the franchises listed before it, CareMinders Home Care is, at its core, all about providing exceptional service and personal care to its senior clients. But, what sets this franchise apart is their equally adamant commitment to caring for their franchisees. From the first days at CareMinders University, franchisors stand beside and behind their franchisees, helping them succeed in every way possible and showing concern that goes beyond that of an investor. Franchisees work within protected territories, providing trained care specialists to clients ranging from hospitals to geriatric facilities, and the central support team helps franchisees through it all, whether they need assistance with marketing or just meeting state regulations.

Population statistics show that by the year 2020, 13 million people will have reached retirement age, which is a larger group of retirees than the US has seen in its 200+ year history. Regardless of economic circumstances, that means that from this day forward, the business opportunities in the field of senior care are only going to grow. If you’re looking for a business for sale, there is possibly no better choice than something in this industry, as it provides both immediate work and nearly guaranteed expansion.

So, you’re thinking of opening a franchise. There are many reasons it might be right for you. However, like any business venture, it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you get begin. Following are a few questions to ask yourself before you get started.

1 ) Do you have the time? While opening a franchise can be a lot easier than many other businesses because your business and marketing plans will be completed before you begin, keep in mind that there will still be difficult times. When you’re first starting out it’s likely you will spend long, grueling hours getting everything up and running. Be sure you’re ready for this time commitment.

2 ) Are you a people person? Most franchises require working with the public on a daily basis. This can be a huge pro for people who love dealing with people. However, for the more subdued pencil pushers out there, it might not be the best option.

3 ) Can you follow instructions? This goes beyond the basics. Of course you can probably follow the basic instructions on decorating scheme, inventory and advertising specifics. However, keep in mind that there are tons of decisions that you’ll have no control over. For example, most franchise agreements preclude you from advertising outside of your specific market, or expanding. If you don’t want to take directions from others, you might want to keep on looking.

Opening a franchise can be rewarding both financially and personally. Just make sure before you make a commitment that it’s the right opportunity for you.

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In 1979, with only $20 in his pocket, 16-year-old Adel Salameh left his struggling family in Jordan to come to the United States hungry for opportunity and success. Unable to speak English, Salameh earned his education at night. By day, he worked as a stock boy at a high-end shoe store in downtown Chicago. Salameh’s hard work and dedication yielded him a spot as district manager, but Salameh still hoped to own his own business.

Through a friend, Salameh was introduced to the possibilities of franchising with Verlo Mattress Factory Stores.

Salameh describes it as being in the right place at the right time.

“Verlo Mattress opened a window for me at the perfect time,” Salameh said.

Salameh has been a Verlo franchise owner since 1993. Today he owns three successful operations in Wisconsin and in 2007 earned the International Franchise Association’s Franchisee of the Year Award, representing Verlo Mattress Factory Stores.

He attributes his personal success to buying into a franchise as opposed to starting a business from scratch. “Some of the most important advantages of owning a franchise include: training, brand awareness, purchasing power, a proven business plan as well as advertising and ongoing support,” Salameh said. “Verlo has provided all of these initiatives to the franchise body - things you won’t have when starting a business on your own.”

Verlo Mattress Factory Stores of Boulder franchise owner Dick Sumerfield echoes Salameh’s sentiments. “For me, it all started nearly 20 years ago when my wife, Jane, and I stepped into a Verlo store in Crystal Lake, Illinois,” Sumerfield said. “We left that day with not only a new mattress but with a new sense of curiosity about franchising opportunities with Verlo.”

Sumerfield said he liked the quality and the price and also appreciated the straightforward and informative sales approach.

“As fate would have it, I was actively looking for a business to open and was attracted to the Verlo concept,” Sumerfield said. “I was accepted to law school but instead, chose to open a business like my grandfather had done. I was a substitute teacher and a sales representative while looking for the right business to open.”

Sumerfield said he did his homework. “I researched many business opportunities, including buying a fleet of garbage trucks, developing a line of neon kids’ towel shirts and even taking the restaurant-chain road,” he said. “In the end it was my discussions with the Verlo founders that convinced me that a Verlo franchise offered the business integrity I was looking for.”

Both Salameh and Sumerfield enjoy the benefits franchising has afforded them, but Salameh did advise that franchising is not for everyone. “If you are sincerely the independent type and prefer to carry a different tune, franchising may not be the best option for you,” he said.

Other items to factor in when making the leap into franchising include:

• Franchise Fees: Franchise fees are a mandatory part of owning a franchise. These fees vary from franchise to franchise but typically vary from $20,000 to $35,000.

• Royalties: There is normally a monthly royalty fee, which is based on a percentage of your sales.

• Command: Franchisees must operate under the rules and regulations that their franchisor sets.

• Required Purchases: You may be required to purchase supplies or inventory from a specific source. This keeps the product consistent and often saves the franchisee money, but can also be undesirable for some.

• Termination Clause: If rules are not followed, a franchise can be seized from a franchisee and their franchise agreement can be terminated.

“Franchising holds a grand potential of promise and rewards,” Salameh said. “But like with everything in life, you have to really want it!”

The person who wants to buy a franchise to start up their business should know off hand that owning a franchise is no guarantee for financial bailout if you start getting into the red. Many business owners have this misconception and find that they are in worse shape than being a small local ma and pa store. The advantage for the franchise business owner is that their business known nationwide and the corporation runs campaign ads that help create sales. Some people like the franchise idea because they know that the product they are selling is top grade and well like by everyone. There is no need for the person who owns the franchise to question the standards of the business but instead they need to make sure that they are located in a good place for sales. That is only one problem faced by a business owner who utilizes franchised ownership. It is best to check out your suppliers to make sure that you will not get poor products at an outrageous price. Remember you are still the business owner and make all the decisions on everything from the cleaning solution to the spatula to use in your kitchen.

Franchise business is not always the person who owns and operates the business but it can be a person who is in the business to sell franchises to those who are interested in their own business. The lesion is the business finding independent third party person to buy an already standing franchised business. The agent who does this normally only deals in finding the independent person to operate an already standing establishment or if the corporation is planning to build a new branch then they must find someone who is willing to purchase the new building. There are government requirements by both state and local that the new owner held accountable not the corporation. The new franchise owner must make sure that this business meets all safety and health standards locally and any standards that the state requires. It is best to consult an attorney to make sure that everything from documentations to actual building is in proper order before you sign an agreement.

After you have met all government requirements and set up shop then you are required as the franchisee to meet all standards and fees that the franchisers assess to the contracts. You as a franchisee must adhere to the trademarks, service marks, trade names, logo’s and advertising that the franchiser may impose. The franchise is the best business for someone who wants to own their own small business. You do have perks as an owner and find that it is easier to maintain your business with the advantages provided you by the franchiser.

The Associated Press recently released an article that, in the face of economic recession, seemed a little strange. America, and most of the world along with it, faces record-breaking stock market losses, inflation, and unemployment. People are tightening their belts, suffering investment losses, and beginning to cringe at the thought of employee cutbacks. And yet, pet industry numbers are steadily on the rise. As AP writer Ashley Heher puts it in her article Is Pet Industry Recession-Resistant?, “companies that sell everything from organic dog treats to couture-inspired pet toys say business is up even as economic indicators show shoppers are pinching pennies during one of the worst downturns in decades.”

As it turns out, the numbers actually do support the rather unexpected notion that the pet market is in fact recession-resistant. The American Pet Products Association, the leading non-profit group serving the pet industry, has estimated that when the year closes out, America will have spent $43.3bil on their pets in 2008. Over half of that revenue comes just from pet food and accessories, which the market research agency, Euro-Monitor International, expects to see a continued 13% growth in by 2013.

To some degree, the strength of the industry makes sense, as 63% of the nation’s households own at least one pet; that’s 71 million homes. Only five years ago, that number was 64 million, so obviously there has been a drastic increase in the number of American pet owners, which would make a positive impact on the pet industry. But a simple increase in pet-ownership numbers doesn’t seem enough to account for this exceptional growth during the worst recession since the great depression.

AP’s Heher tells the story of one woman who owns a veritable zoo of pets, spent $300 on Christmas gifts for them last year, and expects to spend even more this year. And though this particular consumer sounds as though she should be a stray from the norm, she isn’t. “It may sound counter-intuitive,” Heher writes, “but experts say many pet owners are as dedicated to their animals as parents are to their children. And that means they’re willing to sacrifice on themselves before trimming back on their four-legged friends.”

Whatever your particular opinion on this pet trend, there’s no denying that while their masters wonder about career prospects and the future of the economy, America’s dogs are having their day. Whether you’re a diehard puppy-lover going on a diet of ramen-noodles for the welfare of your pooch or simply a wise investor seeking some business independence in a successful market, here are some pet franchises that could be your ticket to recession-resistant success.

Central Bark

This franchise business is all about using and building a passion for canine caretaking. Franchisees, with the exceptional help of their franchisor, create a safe, fun, and engaging doggy daycare facility for people to leave their beloved pets at. Franchisees needn’t come to the business opportunity with previous experience; the franchisor has all the necessary tools to train new franchise owners in all matters, including daily practices, dog training, and marketing.

Pet Depot

This turnkey operation puts a franchisee at the helm of a specialty pet food shop. Of all specific subsections of the pet industry, food is perhaps one of the most lucrative and cyclical, and Pet Depot puts that to use for its franchisees. Because it’s a part of a greater chain of stores, each franchise benefits from initial store design and layout assistance, cooperative buying power, advertising aid, and chain-wide customer coupons and specials.

Petland

200 locations exist across the United States and 20 more are planned to open in the next year, both here and abroad. The core of their mission is to match people with the best pets for them, educate the public about animals and the best ways to care for them, and make everything as engaging and fun as possible for humans and critters alike. Franchises vary in size from 4,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. and benefit from an array of franchisor services including PR support, marketing help, award-winning training, and an established brand recognized around the world.

Dogtopia Dog Spa

Primarily a doggy daycare establishment, this business for sale serves the canine community and the pet owners who love them in variety of ways: providing daycare, overnight stays, training classes, a space for do-it-yourself dog-washing, doggy spa services, and retail sales of pet-care gear. Franchisees receive help finding and building out a location; receive professional-grade marketing materials and a website; and are taught not only how to manage the behavior of individual dogs, but how to control dogs in a pack. And best of all, clients can get online and see how their pets are doing through live webcams.

Canine Dimensions In-Home Dog Training

This home based business is based on two fundamental principles. One; training dogs is a worthwhile, necessary, and lucrative business. And two, dogs are best trained in their own homes instead of at some external facility. In fact, both of those core beliefs of this work from home business hold true: franchisees find an incredibly rewarding and profitable opportunity in this corner of the massive pet industry, and both dogs and owners learn better when they’re trained in proper behavior in the environment they’re going to need it in. Canine Dimensions In-Home Dog Training franchisees do train both man and beast, because if the owner doesn’t continue good training practices, all the paid services will be for naught.

Though it does in fact seem a little counter-intuitive, of all the possible business opportunities at your disposal in the midst of this economic decline, joining the pet industry may be your best bet for recession-resistant success. Whether one of the above franchises or something else, take a good, hard look at a business opportunity in this market and you may find yourself barking all the way to the bank.

Is a Franchise Right For You?

I have experience in various kinds of businesses including a few national franchises. Franchising is one that I recommend - in some cases. It’s true that franchising increases your chances of success but - is it right for you? There has to be a good fit for you and the franchiser because it will be a relationship. The door swings both ways.

What Is a Franchise?

A franchise is a type of license a franchisee is given to allow them to have access to certain proprietary knowledge, business procedures, processes and trademarks in order to allow the franchisee to sell a product or provide a service under the trade name. Usually in exchange for getting this privilege, you will be required to pay a franchise fee. There may also be ongoing royalty fees and annual licensing fees.

Advantages to Buying a Franchise

Some of the more obvious advantages to buying a franchise is first of all you have access to an established brand name and so you have a jump at making yourself known. Also the risk of failure is less because other franchisees are working the system and surviving perhaps even thriving in the business. The franchiser is required to disclose financial information on the parent corporation. By law you should receive a franchise offering circular that discloses information like legal issues, past and present, the agreement, and a list of existing owners (who you can call). Another really good thing is the franchiser is relying on you to succeed and for many reasons. Your success is the franchiser’s success. Because when a franchiser has a history of success they’ll be able to sell more franchises and the franchise will increase in value. Not only that but as is the case in many franchises the franchisers make money on product sales to the franchisee. So you are not going into business alone, you are participating in a win - win situation in a lot of cases.

One indicator for me as to a franchise’s strength is when there are multiple franchisees who own more than one franchise. That shows that the guys that are in the business like the business.

Also, a franchiser will usually offer training at their corporate office and/or another facility or maybe at a store in operation where you can get some on the job training.

There are other advantages too. Look a little closer and you’ll see some key points that will help you succeed.

Some of the not so obvious advantages include, (A) you have access to other franchisees that you can confer with when issues or questions arise. You should even check to see if there is a dealer association that helps with franchisee/franchiser relations and business decisions that affect the franchisees, (B) training involves teaching techniques that are proven to work, and (C) there are usually advertising cooperatives.

Disadvantages

As with anything else in life there are drawbacks too.

Some disadvantages include franchise fees - a range that I have seen can be from several thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. True the fee covers the brand awareness marketing and business systems that have been tried and proven to work and it sometimes covers the training that is done but it won’t cover the expenses of getting to the corporate offices for training, hotels, meals, it won’t cover the building lease, remodeling, furniture & fixtures, computers and inventory, or employee hiring and training. And then of course you are unemployed while all this is going on - living expenses have to be figured in. It’s all the additional expenses that have to be paid for before you get the first paying customer. Also, there are usually ongoing franchise fees in the form of royalties on monthly gross sales - something around 5% to 15% in some cases. Take that right off the top of the cash flow projection when you sit down to figure that out. If you have to purchase product it is usually a requirement of the franchise agreement that you purchase your product through the parent company, you have no say over who you will buy from in a lot of cases (unless there is a dealer association).

With any business there will be the learning curve, factor it in and do as much as you can to ‘foresee’ scenarios in your market. Just check out the company, the history, the time in business and do your own projections based on your new knowledge.

Final Analysis: Don’t be sold, be sure.

So, you’re thinking of opening a franchise. How do you know if it’s the best plan for you? While it’s certainly not the best option for everyone, it can be a great choice for the right person. Following are 3 reasons you might consider a franchise.

1 ) Tried and true. Franchises come with a ready made business plan that has been tried and tested. It works, if you follow the plan. You won’t have to spend months making decisions and immediately second guessing them. There will be no need to find a financial planner to decide how much of your start up capital should be allocated to certain aspects of your business. You’ll have the entire plan set out for you.

2 ) Save time and money. You won’t have to spend a ton of time deciding on the different decorating aspects of your business. The colors of the interior will already be decided. The signage will be decided. You’ll even have pre-designed advertisements made. You’ll also be able to take advantage of whole sale prices on all of your start-up needs, from booths to kitchen equipment.

3 ) Ready-made customer base. If you open a franchise that is well known, you’ll already have a customer base. There is no need to familiarize new customers with your business. They will already have a familiarity with your company - and it’s likely it’ll be a good one!

These are just 3 of the reasons that opening a franchise might be a good idea. Before getting started on any idea, make sure that you do your research and are confident it’s the right choice for you.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Owning and operating a small business was once the exclusive domain of the risk takers of the business world. The true entrepreneur had a distinct flair for creativity, innovation and vision. He, and I emphasize “he”, knew how to operate outside-the-box. He knew how to make things happen. Many times, this individual had little choice as he knew from an early age he would be responsible for shaping his future and for making it on his own. Formal education was usually limited and often just a far-fetched dream. Corporate life was not even an option. Besides, he couldn’t be told what to do, how to do it and when to do it. No way. No how.

Well, times certainly have changed in the business world. More so recently as many companies are faced with economic uncertainty as layoffs become the norm rather than the exception. An advanced degree is no longer the fast track to success. As such, many individuals including more females than ever before are deciding enough is enough. Wanting to control their own destiny they’re increasingly choosing small business ownership as opposed to leaving their future in the hands of Corporate America.

Sure, the financial aspects are vitally important. That’s a given. However, today’s new small business owners describe their number one priority as establishing true balance in all areas of their life. They desire the freedom of furthering their own personal growth but will limit that growth by their abilities and resources, finding it more important to help others improve the quality of their lives and build long-term mutually beneficial relationships; both business and personal. They firmly believe people and relationships to be the foundation of success even more than money itself as they have determined money (profits) will be the end result of their actions.

This is where the road gets tricky as a decision must be made between starting their own venture and assuming total risk or reducing the learning curve and limiting the risk by investing in a franchise where they would be in business for themselves but not by themselves. The key questions posed by many emerging small business owners are asked very emphatically, “Can I achieve my goals and objectives as part of a franchise system? And, do I have what it takes to be a franchisee?”

Franchisee Mindset

In addressing these questions (and concerns), it’s relatively easy to analyze the two and realize, beyond the viability of a particular franchise brand as addressed in due diligence of the franchise concept itself, the answers are really contingent and dependent upon each other. The answers actually lie in understanding the mindset required to be a franchisee. Once understood, a choice must be made regarding the desired path either as an independent small business owner or as one of the hundreds of thousands of franchisees across several thousand franchise concepts worldwide.

The typical franchisee must be willing to follow and adhere to a franchise company’s business system and ultimately, promote the same within their new franchise community at all times. It must be completely understood the system cannot be changed by the franchisee nor can their business be operated differently than the franchise company requires as the system is proven and uniform across the chain. It’s this uniformity throughout the organization that is paramount to brand awareness leading to company and franchisee success and is the foundation of an interdependent relationship between both parties to the franchise agreement.

A franchise is almost definitely not the right choice for the business maverick or renegade. Certainly, there is an important place in business and in our hearts for these unique innovators. If not, we wouldn’t know Apple or Dell Computers as they’re known today. Even McDonalds, as probably the greatest franchise of all time that stormed through the country under the leadership and direction of a true maverick, Ray Kroc, would not have been successful without franchisees being required to strictly follow and adhere to the McDonalds system without fail. No questions asked and no room for negotiation.

Entrepreneurs will be around for centuries to come blazing trails as never before. Some will actually plan to choose franchising as an expansion strategy and build the foundation of future franchise concepts. They will provide a choice for tomorrow’s small business owners on whether to go it alone or invest in a franchise. And, it will be those franchisees of tomorrow that will follow, promote and expand those systems that will prove to be the steel, bricks and glass built upon the foundation of new franchise companies. Thus, continuing the growth of franchising as it expands throughout the world; truly a way of giving back by affording people more opportunities and options in determining the path to small business ownership that suits them best.

If you are tired of your thankless, boring job, want to get out of the rut and dream of leading a swanky lifestyle, then running a franchise under a profitable and reputed franchisor could be the right, and the easiest, option for you. And many business entrepreneurs are doing it too, since surveys show that more than 40% of business around the world is franchise run. However, while some franchises can become huge successes, others bomb big time. So, how do you make out which franchise for sale , is the right one for you?

Niche: As you know, businesses all over the world are competing fiercely with each other for a bigger piece of customer pie. That being the case, you need to choose a business that can stand up to the competition offered by rivals. A product that runs on its own steam can save advertisement costs and bring in customers automatically.

Protected territories: What happens if the same franchisor opens another outlet selling the same thing that you sell, across the street from you? Even a reputed and successful business that does not protect its franchisees by ensuring protected territories for each is not worth considering. That said, it is important to understand that having a protected territory dos not have anything to do with distance. It means that a franchisee must have a tested formula for deciding on successful demarcation between areas. For instance, you could always have a Macdonald’s outlet at a reasonable distance, particularly if each is housed in a shopping complex of its own. But in case of a small business franchise based on service, large territories are a must.

Selection: Before you buy the franchise on sale, always check out all your options. Some people buy on recommendations from friends and family, others go through yellow pages. These days, you can find independent online directories specializing in providing information regarding franchises on sale. You may post your requirements on these websites, or you may browse through their searchable database to identify the right franchise. Such websites have a number of helpful online tools that make it easy for you to manage listings, feature online ads and appear in search engine listings.

Assistance: Franchises fail in the first few years of business because of their inability to find the right direction. Choose a company that wants you to excel. Many reputed companies give you excellent training programs that let you in on their trade secrets and business strategies. They also make you aware of the most common mistakes made by businesses, so you can easily learn from the trials and errors of other people. So, check out the company’s training program. How extensive is it, does it involve on-location training classes, do they follow up with other training programs and so on.

Many franchises for sale may appear attractive at first sight, and there may be people you know who are running such concerns in a very successful manner. But, they are not you and the opportunities they select need not be the right ones for you. Select a franchisee that has as much interest in your success as you do, has good chances of succeeding in your area and coincides with your interests. That way, success will come to you automatically!

A franchise is the formal right, or license, granted by a company to an individual, group or corporation to market its products or services. Usually franchises are limited to specific geographic territories to protect previously existing franchisees.

Advantages of buying a Franchise

There are very important advantages in starting your own business by buying into a franchise. The primary advantages are:

> The product (or service) is established and may be well advertised
> Potential customers will be coming to a known entity
> Assistance in creating and placing advertising is frequently available
> Experienced assistance in setting up your business is usually available
> Training of your employees and you is usually available
> The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and many states have laws and regulations that can protect you to a great degree in getting involved in a franchise

Disadvantages of buying a Franchise

These are just some of the possible disadvantages of buying a franchise. Your attorney can be more complete and specific when he/she knows the identity of the franchisor:

> Getting involved in a franchise requires experienced professional assistance and, probably, a lot of research.
> Most franchise agreements are negotiable but negotiations usually start heavily in favor of the franchisor.
> Franchises can be very restrictive, e.g., where you but your supplies, the appearance of your facility, even to how your employees dress.
> Franchises are not necessarily transferable to a new owner which can make your business hard to sell.
> If the franchisor is a one-person company and that person become incapacitated, your franchise could also become history.

In making your decision you especially need to evaluate the available territory as well as the compatibility of the franchised product (or service) with your own individual likes and dislikes. It is far easier to be successful in your own business if you enjoy what you are doing. Otherwise it becomes just a job that you come to regret.

Photography business requires one to have knowledge and expertise. You need to be very good in marketing and a lot of revenue to make it through. You have to have what it takes to create a good photo so that potential buyers will notice it instantly. The issue is not about how good one can take photographs but the real objective to be smart about how you go about it and start making money from the practice.

The photography part is easy; being smart is the hard part. In this field to make a living by taking of stunning photographs, you need more than photography skills; you must also be an objective businessperson. Photography covers a wide range of fields or areas which you need to have a complete knowledge and experience in. There is landscape photography, which usually covers basic land, sky, sea or anything the eye can see, those involved in this field of photography are in the most competitive field of photography.

One can opt to be a home-based photographer, where you work on a broad range of subject matter, ranging from fashion, portraits, underwater, weddings, product photography and others. You can be a freelance photojournalist or a publication photographer. Professional photography can be broadly divided into two distinctive areas. There is assignment photography which is commissioned by a client while stock photography which involves photography shot on speculation, in advance of being sold.

Filming is a type of photography which involves shooting various sites of a movie. Thus, anyone with an eye for unique images, the right apparatus and film, and excellent technical skills can take good pictures. However, to make a living out of taking stunning photographs needs more than photography skills; you must also be a perceptive businessperson. To succeed in this business, you need to know about financial, legal, management and marketing aspects of starting and running a photography business.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

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Yoghurt is a very salable drink. If you have all the knowledge about making some great yoghurt, then you could be off the ground making a delicacy that will make you not only rich, but immensely popular in the shops, and the neighborhood. Here are some tips to go about it and making it as a real yoghurt man.

Identify the best location for your business; the best locale for such a business is up-market areas or your shopping centre. These will guarantee you sales and a clientele that will offer you a long term source of cash

Maintain cleanliness; nothing will bring you clients that cleanliness. People love clean and smart places, especially food joints. Also maintain that level of cleanliness on your side, don’t wear milk stinking coats with flies roaring all over you and expect to get customers.

Fix your prices; do not put astronomical figures that will put off potential customers.

Start a yoghurt delivery service; deliver them chilled or worm to homes and even offices and you will be such a hot name.

Give quality; and you will worry less about money. Have a business card, leave it with your clientele and you will be amazed at how people will keep calling you to deliver the yoghurt. It won’t be long before you start hiring people to help you in deliveries. And a new or two joints will not be a surprise. It takes hard work and determination to get things done and once they are done, you will be smiling all the way to the bank.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Imagine doubling your money every week with no or little risk! To discover a verified list of Million Dollar Corporations offering you their products at 75% commission to you. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program.

Today the clothing franchise has turned to be one the most lucrative businesses for many worldwide. This business only requires a simple research on the clothing needs in terms of the ever-changing fashion, the materials, the prices and the markets are the most distinctive areas. One can opt to sell new either cloth or second hand clothes, one can get rid of the used old clothes and get more resources for new clothes, which will fetch more profits.

The clothing business requires one to do research on the clothing stores around the area, this one will give a clear view on what the customers want, it will help to determine a competitive market price based on the comparison of the shops around and on the types of clothes sold. Upon the survey of the market around, it is important to set a reasonable price for the clothes traded.

Setting up a high price on old clothes will only hurt the business as one might spend a long time before making a single sale, on the contrary a good price even with a small profit margin with keep the business rolling and making more sales within a short time.

Clothing business requires specialization in terms of the clothing line,either, men, and women or kids cloths all these needs a systematic arrangements in the stores or even the shops to avoid mix-ups. A neat and an orderly cloth store will attract customer attention and minimize the challenge of saving time whenever a customer pops in and can get to make a choice of the clothes within a short time.

Finally, the key to success to this business is to learn to be kind to your customers and to your business associate always keeping clean records of your receipts in order to guide you on the clear direction of your business as you list down the stores, shops and potential customers you try to sell your clothes.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Imagine doubling your money every week with no or little risk! To discover a verified list of Million Dollar Corporations offering you their products at 75% commission to you. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program.

Purchasing and running a franchised business is a great way to operate your own business, while taking advantage of many benefits offered from franchises. Purchasing a franchise allows you to open a business, while drastically cutting down on many obstacles posed by starting a business from scratch.

Add to this the benefits of being able to promote a well-known or recognized company and their products or services and a franchised business may very well be your recipe for success. However, before jumping into the franchising market, it is important to understand the requirements necessary for purchasing and operating your own franchised business. (more…)

It seems only natural for someone starting a company to wander about how much they can make from that venture. When it comes to business, not much can be worse than the realization that all the hard work and sacrifice that goes into building a business is not producing the desired financial returns.

“How much can I make?” This a very simple questions with a very complicated answer, at least when it comes to buying a franchise. (more…)

By Tom Rothrauff, president and COO of Basement Living Systems U.S.A.

The recent economic instability and uncertainty in the marketplace is exerting a far-reaching impact that, for some professionals, influences much more than just the bottom line. Challenging times often inspire new solutions and provide many individuals with a heightened degree of analytical and strategic insight into the business model that works best for their personal circumstances. For a great many struggling professionals, the answer is to enter into a franchising agreement with an experienced franchisor and a proven product. Taking advantage of quality franchising opportunities can be a logical and lasting professional solution; a solution with both short- and long-term benefits that provides an appealing combination of security, support, and flexibility. (more…)

Though it may come as something of a surprise, home repair businesses are often some of the most stable when the economy takes a dive, and the biggest reason for that is a relatively simple one. People are most likely to spend money on what means the most to them, and for most homeowners, the house is one of the things that is most important in life, because it’s the biggest investment the average person will ever make. Therefore, even in recession, people remain willing to spend the money it takes to keep their homes in good repair. For that reason, home repair businesses rarely see a large downturn, even when the rest of the economy is dropping off, like it is now. (more…)

So, you have been considering a business of your own and you are tired of working for someone else, or perhaps a company that does not fully appreciate your talents. Well, you are not alone, in fact, this is the number one reason people go into business for themselves. (more…)