Does the Franchise You’re Considering Protect Its Brand?
Back when the U.S. highway system was being built, restaurants along the roadside had a wonderful opportunity — and a serious problem. Some travelers love finding that surprising little place off the beaten path, but plenty like to make a quick stop where they know what they’ll get, and head…
Franchise Business and Risk
Franchise businesses involve risk, just as all businesses do. While there is wide variation in the numbers produced by studies comparing franchise failure rates with those of independent businesses, one thing you can say for sure: lots of small businesses fail, including franchises. The top reasons for failure are not…
Who Was the First Franchisor?
The father of modern franchising was probably Isaac Singer, who made practical sewing machines in the 1800s. He had a couple of problems with his machines. First, while people were excited about sewing machines, they couldn’t use them without training, so the machines weren’t exactly jumping off the shelves in…
SBA Reviews Franchise Loan Guidelines
There has been quite a bit of controversy recently around the question of whether franchisees are big businesses or small ones. Much of the debate has centered around the question of whether franchisees have to follow laws about employees as though they were multimillion dollar corporations, as some franchisors are,…
Is There a Local Market for Your Franchise Idea?
Joanna was thinking about opening a business. She had enough severance pay from the job she had just left to cover the start-up costs of a business. She knew that she could work for a couple of years without drawing a salary, because of her husband’s job, and then she…
Does Prestige Matter in Your Franchise Choice?
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but when you’re deciding on the best franchise to own for your needs, a whole bunch of rights will certainly lead you to the right choice. Here are some of the things you’ll consider: Is it right for your personality? Do you have the…
Can You Run a Franchise with Your Spouse?
You’re thinking about investing in a franchise business opportunity, and even if you haven’t decided which business option is best for you, you’ve already decided who you’ll partner with to run the business. For many prospective franchisees, that partner is also their life partner. Many married couples choose to go…
Does a Franchisee Have to Follow Labor Laws?
A pizza franchisee in New York, the owner of five franchises, has found himself in hot water. Here are his transgressions: He didn’t pay for fractions of hours, but instead rounded down hours to the whole hour. He didn’t pay his delivery people overtime. He didn’t reimburse drivers for their…
Tech Franchise Opportunities
If you have a problem with your car, you call a mechanic. If you’re not satisfied with your lawn, you can call a lawn service. But when business owners or private individuals have a problem with their technology, they often have no idea whom to call. A recent survey of…
Do You Want a Controversial Franchise?
Once upon a time there was a little boy in India who cleverly tricked tigers in the jungle into running so fast that they turned into butter instead of eating him. And once upon another time — 1957, to be precise — there was a pair of Italian immigrants in…