For some people it has an addictive quality, and they cannot get enough of the fast pace, but this kind of franchise is not for everyone.

If you have always enjoyed working with the public and being the person “in charge” behind the counter, then maybe a franchise in food service is right for you. To be successful with this kind of franchise, you will need good communication skills, high energy, and a passion for owning your own business.

Why is a franchise in food service such a good idea right now?

According to the National Restaurant Association, the number of food service industry jobs in America will increase by 10% or more over the next decade. Most of this growth will be seen in the “franchise food service” category, particularly “fast casual” restaurants. Franchises like Chipotle, Baja Fresh, Cosi, Panera Bread and Peace a Pizza are cropping up in suburban shopping districts everywhere. They succeed by giving patrons more ambience and better food than a fast-food restaurant without the added expense of table service.

This promising new trend for franchise food service entrepreneurs has caught the attention of the restaurant industry as well, so expect to see more restaurants like this starting up over the next few years. It may seem surprising that any category of business could be growing this quickly during a recession, but the success of this kind of franchise food service business has come at the expense of higher priced restaurants, who have suffered a decline in consumer spending.

Are you considering a new venture as a franchisee? Do you like the idea of starting a new business without the risk that comes from an unproven concept? Starting a franchise food service business may be the right choice for you.

Even getting into auto repair is a difficult task for work from home entrepreneurs because the cost of starting a garage, gas station, or auto parts store is far more than many new businessmen can afford, even if the store is a franchise business.

The hopeful entrepreneur is left to ask if there are any auto franchises in the small business price range, and fortunately, there are. If running your own business and working on cars is really all you’ve ever wanted to do, here are a few great franchises that can make that happen for you.

Paint Bull

There are 3 phases of a franchisee’s relationship with this auto paint business for sale: hands-on training, business startup, and continuing support. The first phase, training, is what they are most well known for, sometimes to the point that people mistake them for being just an auto-painting school, but they are so much more than that. Long after students master their paint application training and move into business for themselves, the help continues. With 19 years of entrepreneurial experience, the franchisor knows exactly what a new business owner needs to spur success. They provide franchisees with instant connection to 8-12 auto dealers who need the franchisee’s services, as well as constant access to technical support. With all that aid, a full load of paint supplies, and a recognized brand name, Paint Bull franchisees are fully prepared to succeed in their market.

Premier Paint 2000

Another mobile auto paint repair franchise, this home based business is recognized as having something that other similar businesses simply do not: the good paint technology in the industry. Their system, equipment, and methods of application are so advanced that they have an 85% success rate where most similar businesses only have 30%. The difference is a 99% color match between the repainted area and the rest of the car, something that is unheard of in the market and so regularly attained with this system that Premier Paint 2000 guarantees their work for at least a year, and in many cases, up to the lifespan of the product. And the franchisor is always on the lookout for new technologies and tricks that will put franchisees even further ahead of the competition.

Creative Colors International

This automotive small business takes a slightly different method to working on cars than the other two. While the first two work on the exterior of the automobile, Creative Colors International repairs the interior. Vinyl, velour, plastic, leather, or carpeting, Creative Colors International franchisees can fix it from the back of their mobile repair centers. Really, it doesn’t even have to be inside a car; the job could be on a boat, a plane, an RV, or just some household furniture, and the franchisee can still restore the interior to its original beauty. Despite their skill however, Creative Colors International work at home franchisees recognize that not every job is going to go perfectly, and it’s that realism and humility that sets them apart. If the job isn’t done right the first time for some reason, the franchisee will do it again, and if it doesn’t work that time, he’ll do it again. And if he just can’t seem to get it right, by action, he’ll find the person who can. Creative Colors International’s goal is not simply business, but the satisfaction of the client.

Though there is no doubt that the bigger parts of the car industry are so well established that it’s nearly impossible to break into them now, that doesn’t mean that there is no way to make your living working on cars in your own business. Any one of the 3 business opportunities above provide the perfect entry point into the market and a good way to attain financial and career freedom.

Just because your business deals with pets and their owners doesn’t mean you won’t have the same worries as any other franchises out there. Before you sink your nest egg into your pet-oriented franchise, here are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

It All Starts With Money

Any pet franchise you look into will come with a disclosure document. This paperwork will give you an upfront view of all the costs of the particular opportunity you are looking into. Starting capital, overhead costs, insurance, and other expenditures will be outlined. Along with this document, you’ll have many conversations with your franchisor to qualify that you are in a financial situation to responsibly handle a franchise.

You will also have meetings with your bank to complete your financing and iron out any discrepancies that would cause a rocky start to your pet franchise. You may feel like you are being put under the spotlight, but this is all to ensure your success. The trail of pet franchise success is littered with people who didn’t have the funds to run their businesses properly.

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

For the first-time pet franchise owner, the need for marketing may not seem to be an important part of your business strategy. Many who embark on this journey are content with a phonebook ad or a weekly spot in their local newspaper. You need to know that this is just the tip of the marketing iceberg.

A marketing budget should be one of the first things you figure into your expenses. An effective plan should take into account the good method to reach your purpose customers. Knowing who you will sell your services to will help you flesh out a marketing strategy that is both budget-friendly and worthwhile.

Become familiar with your franchisor’s marketing policies. Many franchisors will have a monthly quota for marketing and will include which mediums are the most effective for your market. Why reinvent the wheel?

Stick to the Plan

Pet franchises are successful for one reason – the system. Successful franchisors have honed their business strategies down to the essentials. You may feel like you are being boxed in at the beginning. Understand that these are just training wheels to help you along the way, especially during the crucial first quarters.

These franchise systems are constructed to leave little or nothing to chance. This makes a lot of sense. If you are chosen to represent the pet franchise you will be responsible for ensuring its success or its failure. Going out of business is not only bad for you but it also wreaks havoc on your franchisor. Let’s face it – nobody wants a losing business on their books.

Franchisees that follow the system carefully laid out for them by their franchisors have the edge over those who want to “wing it”. In many cases, your ideas can be incorporated after the first year, depending on the guidelines you agreed to at the time of your contract signing. If you are diligent in all aspects of your pet franchise, success is yours for the taking.

Familiar names like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King and numerous more have championed the franchise methodology to develop their reach as far as possible. The former have gained a presence into most corners of the globe it seems. Its claimed that McDonalds at this time have more than 31,000 outlets in over 110 countries. Even though a number of outlets are company owned, over 70% are administered as franchises, by standalone business owners. This is franchise business operating on a considerable scale!

Of course, the food franchise business is an incredibly recession robust sort of business to be involved in. Everyone needs to eat, its quick and easy, moderately low cost and with the child openness of a lot of the fast food type businesses, are usually a low cost choice for a family to go out for lunch.

Alongside burger outlets and still retaining the fast service principle at its core, you can find salad bars, sandwich bars to cater for most tastes.

And its not merely fast food outlets that can be run as franchise businesses. Catering franchise businesses live to deliver food for business events or business lunches, home delivery services to serve those who have a requirement to have meals delivered to their door, and more!

Starting up a Food Franchise system

The food sector can present a great opportunity, however, as with any other business venture, its wise to do your groundwork before buying into a food franchise. Think about your strengths and your areas of weakness and then examine choices which match the things you get pleasure from doing as well as your character.

Make sure you open up financing choices with your bank as finance will play a big role in the franchise system choice. Some of the food franchise businesses you might consider may already have a well renowned reputation and solid branding, however, its still invaluable to enquire with the bank if they retain any record on the franchise you are researching. After you have sufficient finance information under your belt its time to visit the franchisor, observe their setup and in addition chat to a selection of their franchisees. The franchisees can potentially provide you with some useful feedback in relation to how the franchise business performs for them day-to-day.

Getting hold of legal recommendation will also be important as there will be legal contracts involved in the franchise business startup. Its wise to be correctly educated and covered in relation to any repercussions. As soon as you have decided on your choice, give yourself to following the confirmed franchise system and doing your best to make the food franchise succeed for you.

A pet franchise business may be right for you. People love to spend money on their pets. In fact, pets businesses have recently been deemed a “recession proof” business model that doesn’t experience downturns when the economy is bad. This means that no matter what the market is doing, you can still see a profit in your pet centered business.

Here are five tips for success with your pets business:
1. Choose the right franchise
You can get a lot further with your pet franchise business first if you select the right one to begin with. The more time and energy you put into selecting the right opportunity, the more you’ll be able to get out of the experience. First, ask yourself what you’re willing or able to invest in your new business. Next, you can find an opportunity that fits within that budget. Make sure to read as much as you can about the franchise so you know what you’re getting into.

2. Get connected in your local pet community
There are probably lots of pet lovers in your area that you can get connected with in order to market your business. Getting in with your local community will help you meet your new potential customers. By meeting pet owners and getting in tune with their needs you can lay the groundwork for your company’s future success.

3. Look for opportunities to network with other business owners.
Not only can you reach out to the local pet owners, but you can reach out to other business owners as well. Find related but non-competing business that you can work with in order to build both of your businesses. For example, if you are running a pet bakery business you can connect with pet supply stores, dog walkers and dog waste removal companies can help you promote your business, and vice versa.

4. Hold special events to promote your business.
Don’t forget the power of the special event in promoting your business. Whether it’s a sale that you hype up, a seasonal get together in your store or highlighting a special product or service, you should look for opportunities to get the community together.

5. Connect with your community online.
Even if you’re exclusively doing business in your local community, you can make a great deal of headway with your target market online. Twitter, Facebook and your website can all be a great place to connect with the community and keep them on top of what is going on in your business. These tools are easy to implement and the can make the difference between having a ho-hum business and a thriving pet franchise.

At some point you may decide that you want to try a new franchise opportunity or that you want to retire from franchising. These are two legitimate decisions in the life of franchisee, but what do you do with your current franchise? Well that strictly depends on your franchise contract. Since all contracts are different there are many different solutions to this one problem. In most cases the contract will tell you the ways in which you can terminate your franchise agreement, with the main solution to sell it.

The main option may be to sell your franchise. Your contract may allow you to sell your franchise to someone who is willing to buy it, however you will most likely be the one trying to find that person. If your contract does allow this you will want to make sure you get the most from it.

The first thing you need to do is contact your franchisor and keep them informed. They may have specific steps to follow or advice for selling your franchise. It may also be up to them based on your contract under which circumstances and time constraints you can sell your franchise.

You will then need to know the market for selling it and know what to expect out of it. Just like anything else you may sell you need to know the price you are asking for it before you put it on the market. It is important to be realistic in your asking price. Therefore knowing the market and consulting with your franchisor can help you reach this decision.

You are going to need to find ways to advertise that you franchise is for sale as well. There has to be some ways of letting people know that you are selling your franchise. You may decide to hire a professional for this or you may just do it on your own.

If you really want to sell your franchise you could offer assistance to the potential buyers. This assistance may come in many forms such as training, working with them for a short time, lower costs or throwing in extras that will benefit them. Even though this may not be favorable to you, it may be the only way to get your franchise sold in a timely manner.

Keep in mind that your contract will determine how, when, why and who you can sell your franchise to. So, make sure that you keep in contact with them continuously and follow the contract guidelines. Even if you are just deciding to become a franchisee, eventually you may be in a situation to sell it. The most important thing is to understand this aspect of your franchise contract from the very beginning. It will save a lot of headaches in the end!

You’re a real entrepreneur right? If you are then this article will make perfect sense to you. I am here to tell you that there is NO best franchise in the world. Understand that there is a huge difference in the world of the brick and mortar franchise (the one that you are looking to buy into) and world of a direct sales online business. I will explain the difference between the two and then you make the choice of where you would like your chances with success.

Remember that I am directing this only to the “real” entrepreneurs. The “real” truth about franchising and I grew up living it for 25 years. My father and grandfather were both franchisees for different opportunities and I found some common thread between the two.

1. They both NEVER made much money because the franchisee margins are “very low!” What you must understand is that the franchisor takes the first 5-10% of the profits off the top. Therefore they get paid first, then you.
2. They both worked very long hours for success. I am not saying that you shouldn’t work hard but you need to work smart. And that doesn’t include working 80-90 weeks. But there are better ways to “skin the cat” and find freedom because that is what you truly want.
3. Both of them were looking for the best franchise in the world. Sound familiar? And they found themselves in a huge about of debt because they had big investment costs and little chance to repay it. Because the franchise paid peanuts. Do you see how the first concept of small margins ties in to this?

Now that I shared with you some of the pitfalls of owning your own franchise, I would like to introduce you to the concept of owning an online business. Then you can compare the two.

There are three things that are important to me when looking for a business opportunity:

1. Very High profit margins – if I am going to put in my hard work then I want the reward of profit margins being at least 50% and as high as 80%.
2. Very little risk – no space, no rent, no inventory, no liabilities, no insurance, no employees, and no commute. Does this sound like a franchise opportunity?
3. Opportunity to minimize my risks with large commission payouts – this allows me to pay off all of my debts quickly and become truly FREE!

Now the real entrepreneur is within you so you make the call. Please compare the two for your future. The best franchise in the world is not really a franchise at all.

Buying an existing franchise is somewhat different than buying any other type of business because you are essentially purchasing the business from the seller (franchisee) and the rights to the franchise from the franchisor (company that owns the franchise.) Here are a few suggestions on things you should do before and after the closing:

1. Have a qualified franchise attorney review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) – This should be the very first piece of due diligence you seek. The franchise agreement signed by the previous owners may not be the same agreement you will be subject to perform by. Attorneys are best used as “preventative medicine.” They become very expensive and the legal process is very slow when you use an attorney to help you after the problems have arisen. You should seek out an attorney that has experience with franchise issues. Your acquisition may be subject to transfer fees, back royalties, or the franchise may have first right or refusal to buy the business.

2. Have a firm understanding of all franchise related fees – Franchises have several fees that they charge. Franchises will frequently charge an upfront or initial fee as well as a transfer fee. Other fees may include a flat rental fee and/or a royalty based on the gross sales or gross profits. There are also a whole group of other fees the franchise may charge and you need to be aware of when and how the franchise fees are paid, what these fees go to, and what happens if you are slow or don’t pay a fee.

3. Compose a new marketing plan and submit it to corporate BEFORE closing – Several business buyers are seeking existing franchises that they can fix up and turn around to make more successful. I recently heard of one story where a seller told the buyer that all they needed to do was increase sales, and the seller even defined a plan of attack on behalf of the new buyer to increase sales. Regretfully the seller did not get his marketing and sale strategy approved by the franchisor. Consequently the new business owner failed because the franchisor was not helpful on turning around the business. By submitting a new marketing plan to the franchisor before you finish the acquisition you will know whether or not the franchisor is supportive to you.

4. Contact several other franchise owners with similar demographics – This is so basic but very few franchise buyers do this! You need to contact several franchisees and discuss your business plan with them to increase or sustain sales. I recently heard of a franchisor that has started three (3) franchises that have all gone bankrupt!

5. Avoid existing franchises with higher than a 5% failure rate or a 10% transfer rate – In my opinion this is a big reason to run, not walk away from a franchise! When you buy a franchise you are buying a proven business model. If the model isn’t working – don’t buy it.

6. Avoid buy new franchises – I recently had a franchise salesman contact me with a really neat franchise idea or concept. I listened to the franchise pitch, he explained that there was an existing store that had been opened for almost two years and the flagship store had been very successful. He explained that as the new franchise was being rolled out they were offering a discounted franchise fee for the first few people who signed up for the business. I seriously considered investing in this franchise, and such as all business decisions I called my long term friend and advisor. He pointed out to me that you buy a franchise because it is a proven business model. If the franchise hasn’t been in existence for awhile, it’s not a proven business model.

7. Consult your franchise attorney (again!)- Franchise attorneys are great resources. They understand that with certain franchisors terms can be negotiated. However there are established franchisors that will not budge on terms of the franchise agreement.

This decision will be based upon one or more of the following reasons:
You suffer “burnout.” The average life span of a small business is four years.
Operating the franchise is no longer enjoyable.
The value of the business is at a high level.
Competitive factors threaten your sales.
There are extenuating circumstances, such as a personal or family illness.

Unlike independent business owners, franchisees have restrictions regarding the sale of their franchise. Because the franchise can only be sold as a franchise can limit potential buyers. This makes it important that your franchise is attractive to qualified buyers.

The Majority of Franchisors Don’t Assist in the Franchisee Sales Process

Since franchisors retain strong contractual rights regarding the sale and assignment of a franchise, most franchisors take an “arms length” approach, when it comes to franchise resales. This lowers the risk that the franchisor will face claims of interfering with, or inhibiting the right of a franchisee to sell their business. Without an organized franchise resale program most franchisees must shoulder the responsibility to find a qualified buyer and complete the transaction. When you’re ready to sell be sure to notify your franchisor since they will be involved in various stages of the sales process. They may also have a franchise prospect in their database that expressed an interest in your territory.

Finding Buyers for your Franchise

If you decide to engage the services of a business broker expect to pay a commission of 8 to 12% of the sales prices. Most reputable business brokers will also have a minimum transaction fee of a least $10,000. Some franchisors will provide the name of business broker(s) to their franchisees. However, as a franchisee looking to sell, it will be your responsibility to find and contract with a business broker.

If you decide to find buyers, begin by listing your franchise on several Internet sites. A number of highly visited sites are bizbuysell.com, bizquest.com, businessnation.com. These sites are inexpensive and attract a great deal of traffic.

Use These Items as a Checklist before Listing your Franchise

- Confirm if there will be a change in the royalty, advertising fees or other important items once the sale is completed. Since franchisors usually require a buyer to execute the current form of franchise agreement, there may be new terms that can negatively impact the future profitability and sales price of the franchise.

- Advise and utilize the services of your accountant and attorney. You’ll need their expertise in valuing the business and dealing with any potential legal issues.

- If location is a key component of your franchise the terms of your lease can be a positive or negative factor depending upon the length and rent. Obviously a long term lease in a good location at a reasonable rent is a plus, while the converse can be a negative. Identify options with your landlord.

- Changes in the competitive nature of the franchise can have an impact. Be prepared to answer questions regarding competition.

- Will the franchisor require the new franchisee to remodel the premises? Some franchise concepts, especially in the food segment will require the buyer to bring the premises up to current standards. Once again identify the possible requirements placed upon a new franchisee.

- Be in “good-standing” with your franchisor. A franchisee in default of their franchise agreement that attempts to sell their franchise without an understanding from the franchisor could get into a “sticky” situation. If necessary, obtain advice and assistance from your franchise attorney.

- Have good financial records that are current and accurate. The majority of small business sales fail because the financial statements fail to confirm owner income, operating expenses and future earnings potential.

- Be realistic and honest regarding the value of your franchise business. Most franchise owners tend to err on the side of setting a higher sales price than their financials support. Also, don’t rule out financing part of the sale price. If you do provide financing be sure your attorney includes protection in your sales agreement.

There are various important considerations to take into consideration once you’ve made the choice of going the franchise opportunity or non-franchise route.

Listed below are ten important considerations that can assist you on your way:-

1. Explore Choices

Use online franchise business directories, franchise shows and franchise publications to research the options available. You will find a huge selection of franchises available on the market so make sure you try to find something you’ll take pleasure in doing and that could suit your lifestyle and budget.

2. Produce a shortlist

After looking at a number of franchise opportunities you might be interested by, draw up a shortlist of 2 or three that you could really see yourself doing. Aquire their franchise information packs either by way of online contact request or pick up the phone.

3. Explore Background

It’s crucial that you identify who you’re dealing with as you will be making a considerable investment. Take a while to discover the franchise company’s working history. You may also wish to investigate the directors of the franchise companies and find out what other ventures they have got or are already associated with. You could find online tools, like the Companies House website, useful.

4. Get together with the Franchisors

As soon as you feel totally clued-up about your shortlist of franchisors, its time to phone them and plan to get together with them. Pay a visit to their central offices and get a feel for their business. At the same time as you’re there, ask for contact details for some of their franchisees as recommendations.

5. Talk to Franchisees

Contact your list of franchisees and ask them questions on how the franchise business performs for them as a commercial venture. Are they trading beneficially? Would they buy the franchise business over again given what they currently see?

6. Research Financing Avenues

There can be many avenues to financing. You may have your own funds to make an investment from savings or a redundancy. More choices could be an external sponsor or main high street banks. It pays to talk to a bank manager nonetheless, present your franchise plan and find some useful feedback as to what financing potential you might have.

7. Obtain Professional Advice

Many people determine they require some professional assistance in the investigation and purchasing process. For this reason, you can find specialist franchise business consultants who have a considerable knowledge of the intricacies of a franchise business that can aid with matching you to a franchise opportunity that works best for you in combination with helping everything proceed smoothly.

8. Acquire Legal Advice

You’ll have to sign a franchise contract as soon as you have decided on the most effective franchise opportunity for you. It’s vital that you get proper legal guidance from a franchise specialist lawyer who can help to make sure that any legal requirements are met and to help you understand the legal agreement you will be entering into.

9. Gut Feeling

How you are feeling about starting your franchise can’t be ignored. It’s normal to have many of queries, notably as you become close to making a choice. The franchisor, and any other franchise gurus you seek advice from through the process ought to have the ability to offer answers and assist you to along your way. However, if you are feeling distress at any point, take a step back to figure out what you might be worried about and settle it before moving forward.

10. Lets get down to some good old fashioned work

A franchise, similar to any other business, requires hard work. Don’t be taken in to think that a franchise works inevitably simply because its a ‘franchise’. A franchise provides a proven system… but the system needs to be worked hard as a way to build a strong and beneficial business