Knowledge Center

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Advice from the Experts

How to Avoid Franchise Undercapitalization

What can I do to help avoid undercapitalization?As you already know, opening a franchise business is a safer bet than opening your own business from scratch. Still, even a franchise isn't a sure thing.One of the biggest…

How to Evaluate Your Franchise Support

I’ve narrowed my search down to three franchises. All of them promise great support. How can I get a better idea of what I’ll really get from each of them?That’s a great question. One of the main benefits of being in a…

Franchise Genius Checklist - Is Franchising for Me?

Franchising is a great business model, but it's not necessarily right for everyone. These questions will help you think about some of the issues surrounding being a franchisee. Can you take direction from others? Are…

Franchise Genius Checklist - Franchisee Research

Franchisee Research ChecklistNote: Talk to as many franchisees as you can to get an accurate picture of the entire system. You should contact franchisees who have been open at least one year and have gone through all…

Franchise Genius Checklist - Franchisor Research

Franchisor Research Question ChecklistIt is important to thoroughly understand all legal documents prior to signing them. This is a list of questions commonly asked by franchisees during the selection process, but…

Franchise Genius Checklist - Franchise Legal Research

Legal Research ChecklistIt is important to thoroughly understand all legal documents prior to signing them. This is a list of questions commonly asked by franchisees during the selection process. It is only a sampling,…

Franchise Genius Checklist - Evaluate Franchise Support

Is a Children's Franchise Right for Me?

If you've always found yourself drawn to working with children, or are a parent yourself, you'll be pleased to know that there are a wide variety of child related franchises. These children’s franchise opportunities can…

Is a Pet Franchise Right for Me?

A pet franchise is the perfect way to combine your love of pets with a business opportunity. If you've noticed over the last ten years, the pet industry has grown by leaps and bounds. People everywhere want to give…

Is an Automotive Franchise Right for Me?

If you've always been interested in cars and want to own your own business, an automotive franchise might be right for you. There are many different types of opportunities available in this industry but all of them have…

Is a Commercial Cleaning Franchise Right for Me?

When most people think of cleaning businesses, they normally picture a maid cleaning a house. However, businesses in both retail and industrial have the need for regular cleaning and maintenance services. Even in times…

Is a Fitness Franchise Right for Me?

Fitness franchises are among the most popular type of franchise businesses. When you own your own fitness franchise, you'll be tapping into a major need for the vast majority of the population. Each year more and more…

Is a Low-Cost Franchise Right for Me?

If you've always wanted to own a franchise, you may have mistakenly thought that franchises cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. You'll be happy to know that there are plenty of low-cost franchises that will allow you…

Is a Pizza Franchise Right for Me?

Everyone loves pizza so it's no wonder that pizza franchises are a popular way to go when it comes to opening your own business. According to statistics, each person in the US eats 23 pounds of pizza per year! With…

Is a Residential Cleaning Franchise Right for Me?

If there's one thing that people like to put off, it's cleaning the house. As life gets more hectic around the United States, and weekends become filled with entertainment activities, house cleaning often goes by the…

Is a Restaurant Franchise Right for Me?

If there's one thing that everybody likes doing, it's going out to a restaurant. Whether you have experience in the service industry or you've always been interested in owning a restaurant, a restaurant franchise might…

Is a Smoothie Franchise Right for Me?

More and more people are health-conscious these days. That is one of the reasons that owning a smoothie franchise is a smart business move. Smoothies are blended beverages made from fruit, ice and other natural…

Is a Sub and Sandwich Franchise Right for Me?

Sub and sandwich franchises are a rapidly expanding sector of the franchise industry. Ever since 1762, when the Earl of Sandwich requested that his dinner be placed between two slices of bread so that he could play…

Is a Technology Franchise Right for Me?

�� If you have any experience in the computing and telecommunications industries, a technology franchise could be the perfect fit. There's no denying that technology is a booming industry. Over 75% of American…

What is Franchising?

So you’re looking for a Franchise opportunity…but you’re not quite sure exactly what “Franchise opportunity” means? What is a Franchise, anyway?In its most simple definition, a Franchise is a business opportunity that…

Is Franchising for Me?

Becoming a franchisee is a personal decision. There are many factors that you’ll want to take into consideration when evaluating whether or not a franchise is the right choice for you.A franchise has a lot to offer the…

Narrowing Your Franchise Search

There are more franchises out there than you would ever imagine. Finding the right one for you will take some time, research, and contemplation. Start by considering a few key things about yourself, and then limit your…

Roles and Responsibilities of Franchisees and Franchisors

In the franchise system, there are two roles: franchisee and franchisor. The two work together to create and expand a successful business concept. So what role does each play in relation to the other?The FranchisorThe…

Roles of Franchise Brokers and Consultants

Should I use a Franchise/Business Broker in My Search? What About a Franchise Consultant?Finding the perfect franchise or business opportunity can be a daunting task -- there are literally thousands from which to choose…

What Franchisors Look for in Franchisees

What We Look for in a Franchisee – A View from the Franchisor’s SideThe franchise sales process is kind of a paradox: both sides want the other to like them, to show that they are perfect for each other. At the same…

Buy a Franchise vs Start Your Own Business

Should I buy a franchise or start my own company?Ultimately, that’s up to you to decide. But it helps to layout the pros and cons of both situations. Your aversion to risk, business experience, and financial…

Franchise Advantages and Challenges

There are advantages and challenges to nearly every business model. The key is to understand what they are and the impact they’ll have on your business ahead of time so you know what to look out for. The idea here is…

What is in a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)?

There are 4 parts to a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD): Cover Page Table of Contents Items 1-23 ExhibitsThe format for each of these sections is very specific and covers the following:Cover PageThe Cover Page…

What is the Franchise FDD's Role?

Franchising is a contract system between two parties—the franchisor and the franchisee. As with any contractual agreement, there are legal documents and agreements that must be followed by both parties. The first of…