Starting a home-based franchise may seem like an easy way to start a business. It can cost as little as $5,000 to start a minimum-investment franchise, compared to the massive amount you’d spend for a storefront.
As a franchisee, you can be an entrepreneur in nearly any field that interests you by tapping into existing franchises from cleaning services to tax preparation, from child care to IT consulting. You get all the brand recognition and time-tested marketing strategies of a big business from the comfort of your own home (and, perhaps, in your pjs).
Sound simple? Not quite. Actually, launching an at-home franchise can leave you tangled in a complicated corporate contract and liable for far more than you bargained for. Buying into a franchise, after all, is an investment, and to make sure that investment pays off, you’ve got to research carefully and buy wisely, especially if you’re bringing business into your own home. Read on…