Gather.com:
Starting a new business can be a stressful time in any circumstance and more people than ever are turning to successful franchising opportunities as an alternative to the ordinary process of starting a business. The secrets to successful franchising are not especially difficult to master, and they all begin by an entrepreneur doing their homework in selecting an advantageous franchising plan that is best suited for business success. Just as their are many prosperous franchising opportunities to be had, there are also a number of parent companies that are concerned with lining their own pockets and have little interest in the success of their new partners. The secrets to successful franchising are to thoroughly research every aspect of the new business and understand what is expected to enable success in terms of both effort and financial commitment.
The most basic of the secrets to successful franchising is to find a parent company that has a long track record of creating profitable franchises, with ongoing support and a stellar reputation in the business community. Listen attentively to their sales pitch and then research the business on your own – if there are vast discrepancies made between what was stated to you and what is factual from your research, be very cautious in proceeding. Most successful franchising opportunities do not need to exaggerate their positive aspects, simply because they produce results in black and white statistics. Ask the company representative for vital statistics, and ask to speak with other franchise owners. Read on…