When the economy falters, many people tend to stop moving forward. But if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, now could be the very best time to take action. History has shown that strong performers tend to take advantage of downturns in the economy, and buying a franchise is one of the top ways to come out a winner.
Why buy a franchise? Proven franchise opportunities offer formulas for success. When you join a proven franchise opportunity you are handed:
•· a tested, proven business model
•· up-front training
•· tools for success, from computer programs to equipment recommendations to sales materials, employee manuals, job descriptions, etc.
•· extensive on-going support
•· and a rapid start-up.
These are just a few of the factors that make franchise ownership much easier than trying to start a business from scratch. Bankers know this, so even in a weak economy they are more willing to offer loans for franchise purchases. If you have decent credit you can get excellent interest rates, which means more money in your pocket.
And if you're looking at a franchise opportunity that requires offices or manufacturing space, now's the time to act! Property values are down, meaning you can lease or buy space at lower rates than anyone has seen in years.
Need employees? As fat companies tighten their belts, many talented people have found themselves looking for a new position. You'll find more highly qualified workers to choose from in a weak economy than in a strong one.
If you're one of the talented people who lost a job recently, this might be the ideal time to buy a business and put yourself in the driver's seat. Or you might be someone who is finding that Corporate America just isn't meeting your needs. Either way, a world of franchise opportunities awaits, and no matter what your lifestyle and income objectives are, there will be franchises for sale that match what you are looking for.
Don't let the economy paralyze you. There are many opportunities out there for business ownership, and right now there are just as many opportunities for real savings. This could be the best time to buy a franchise and join the world of business ownership!
This article was written by Rick Bisio, author of the book, The Educated Franchisee. Rick is dedicated to franchising through the sharing of knowledge. His objective is to create educated franchise buyers that have clearly defined objectives and are able to recognize the right, or wrong, franchise when they see it. Ideally an educated franchisee will move into the franchisee role with their expectations properly set and, as a result, will have a heightened potential for success within the franchise system creating a win/win for all involved.
To learn more about how to identify great franchise businesses and stack the deck in your favor, visit Rick Bisio's website at www.educatedfranchisee.com or purchase his book - The Educated Franchisee. Contact Rick directly at rbisio@educatedfranchisee.com or call 941 778 4660.
By Rick Bisio
Author of The Educated Franchisee
Wow, what an interesting, and sometimes alarming, month it has been. So far we've seen Countrywide, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and AIG struggle, just to mention a few. So what have we learned?
First we have learned about the risk of being overly bullish in an up economy. Many people thought they could not lose. Everything was going up at a feverish pace and every bet seemed to work out well. Life was easy - too easy - and we should have known better. But these are the obvious lessons, the lessons we read about in the newspaper every day. What else can we learn?
The other lesson revolves around the fact that Bank of America bought Countrywide and Merrill Lynch on the cheap. JP Morgan picked up Bear Stearns for a song. And a number of other companies are hunting for deals.
In today's market there is uncertainty and reduced consumer spending, but there is also unprecedented opportunity. The collapse of the housing market means that rents are low, employees plentiful and wages competitive. The cost of money is low also. My HELOC is 4.25%. That means I can borrow $100,000 for $375/mo. Cheap money, lots of low cost, high quality labor and low rent - all can be good news for a sharp, attentive business person.
As my father loves to say - "Things are never is good as they look - nor are they as bad." Half full or have empty? It's your choice of perspectives. Just keep in mind that amid all the chaos, there is likely to be opportunity.
The Educated Franchisee is dedicated to franchising through the sharing of knowledge. Our objective is -
‘To create educated franchise buyers that have clearly defined objectives and are able to recognize the right, or wrong, franchise when they see it. Ideally an educated franchisee will move into the franchisee role with their expectations properly set and, as a result, will have a heightened potential for success within the franchise system creating a win/win for all involved.
To learn more about how to identify great franchise businesses and stack the deck in your favor, visit our website at www.educatedfranchisee.com or purchase our book - The Educated Franchisee. Contact author directly at rbisio@educatedfranchisee.com or call 941 778 4660.
The Educated Franchisee, by Rick Bisio, is a complete guide to entering, owning and operating a franchise.
•1) Preparing Yourself for Business Ownership: The first five chapters of this book are focused on helping the reader decide if business ownership is truly something that makes sense as a career and life choice.
•2) Getting it Right the First Time - How to Examine a Franchise: The second section of the book is focused on educating the reader on how to dissect a franchise system. Some franchise systems are great but others should are not very attractive investments. This how-to manual coaches the reader through the steps that assure a thorough exploration of franchise business ownership and thoughtful decision making.
•3) You've Found the Right Business - Now the Journey Begins: This section provides the new entrepreneur with valuable perspective on the mental mind set for success in franchising. By following the few steps in this section, you will position yourself for a fulfilling voyage as an entrepreneur and franchisee.
Order your copy at http://www.educatedfranchisee.com
Franchise, buying a Franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise for sale, business opportunity, own a business, buy a business, own a franchise, home based franchises, franchising skills, franchise requirements, franchise investment, business franchises, franchise business, running a franchise, franchise operations, franchise ownership, franchise consultant, Franchise Funding, Franchise Loan Consultant, Franchise Loan Consultants, Franchise Financing, Franchise Consulting Organization, Franchise Resources, Franchising your Business, franchise training,, (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan(MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA) , Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY) Major Metro Areas: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chico, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Bolder, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St Paul, Monterey, Nashville, New Haven, New York, Oakland, East Bay, Oklahoma City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Puerto Rico, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Tahoe, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Tucson, Washington DC
The great news for those who are considering franchising is that the franchising world offers tremendous variety in terms low cost franchises and home based franchises.
When people think about franchising, they normally think about quick service restaurants, hotels and other store front franchises. Although these can be good business opportunities, they are also some of the more expensive franchises. At the other end of the spectrum, you can find quite a few low cost franchises and home based franchises with investments of less than $100K.
One of the great advantages of low-cost franchises and home based franchises is that they require minimal fixed expenses. Home based franchises obviously have no rent and very little overhead often leading to a faster break even. In addition, low cost franchises and home based franchises often have strong growth potential over time and can provide a significant return on investment for those with the right skills and the willingness to work hard.
But, as you might imagine, low cost franchise and home based franchises are not risk free. In some ways, they are riskier than higher cost franchises. These franchises tend to attract individuals that are focused only on cost ignoring the reality that low cost sometimes means low quality. The goal of course is to make sure that you purchase a high quality franchise - regardless of the investment.
If you are interested in home based franchises or low cost franchises, you need to read The Educated Franchisee. The research techniques outlined in The Educated Franchisee will help you discern low cost franchises that offer a good system and support from cheap franchises that fall into the category of buyer beware. By asking the right questions and turning over the right stones, the potential franchisee can identify low-cost franchises and home-based franchises that offer both high quality and reasonable cost. Order your copy at http://www.educatedfranchisee.com
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
Franchise, buying a Franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise for sale, business opportunity, own a business, buy a business, own a franchise, home based franchises, franchising skills, franchise requirements, franchise investment, business franchises, franchise business, running a franchise, franchise operations, franchise ownership, franchise consultant, Franchise Funding, Franchise Loan Consultant, Franchise Loan Consultants, Franchise Financing, Franchise Consulting Organization, Franchise Resources, Franchising your Business, franchise training,, (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan(MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA) , Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY) Major Metro Areas: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chico, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Bolder, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St Paul, Monterey, Nashville, New Haven, New York, Oakland, East Bay, Oklahoma City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Puerto Rico, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Tahoe, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Tucson, Washington DC
Before You Take a Bite Out of The Franchise Apple, Become Educated.
Whether you are seriously committed to buying a franchise or just exploring a franchise opportunity, you'll want to read The Educated Franchise
Buying a franchise is an important decision. The Educated Franchisee arms you with franchise information and advice you can trust from one of the leading foremost Franchise Purchasing Consultants.
After reading The Educated Franchisee you'll know how to dissect any franchise opportunity PRIOR to buying a franchise.
The Educated Franchisee takes the uncertainty out of buying a franchise. It equips you with all the tools and knowledge you'll need to fully evaluate a franchise opportunity make a great business decision.
From low cost franchises or home-based franchise opportunities to the top 100 franchises in the country, all franchises can be analyzed using the same basic techniques outlined in The Educated Franchisee. You need to know which franchise opportunity - if any - is the right one for you. http://www.educatedfranchisee.com
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
Franchise, buying a Franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise for sale, business opportunity, own a business, buy a business, own a franchise, home based franchises, franchising skills, franchise requirements, franchise investment, business franchises, franchise business, running a franchise, franchise operations, franchise ownership, franchise consultant, Franchise Funding, Franchise Loan Consultant, Franchise Loan Consultants, Franchise Financing, Franchise Consulting Organization, Franchise Resources, Franchising your Business, franchise training,, (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan(MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA) , Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY) Major Metro Areas: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chico, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Bolder, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St Paul, Monterey, Nashville, New Haven, New York, Oakland, East Bay, Oklahoma City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Puerto Rico, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Tahoe, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Tucson, Washington DC
I provide franchise consulting for people considering buying a franchise. My objective is to match the right person to the right franchise and share my knowledge about the franchise business.
Although many people would say my entry into the franchise business was in 1994, I would have to say it happened long before that. The franchise business is just a subsection of entrepreneurship, something I have been involved in my entire life.
I was born in Kansas City, the son of a hard working and independently minded father. Naturally, my father owned his own business. Entrepreneurship is what I knew growing up and it is the foundation of how I look at the world. If you want your children to grow up confident in their own abilities, start a business and let them take part. It will give them the confidence to tackle anything in life.
Although I had many small businesses in my youth, my first full time business started when I was 25 years old. I secured the exclusive rights to import a variety of Italian plumbing brands and promptly quit my corporate job. When I started this business, I knew nothing about plumbing products and I had no contacts within the United States plumbing industry. This was what you commonly call a ‘boot-strap start-up'. Suffice it to say that I learned a lot.
After selling my business, I spent several years both teaching and studying. While studying for my Master's Degree in International Business in the early 1990's, I was introduced to the franchise business model. This chance encounter changed my life.
I joined AFC Enterprises - Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits, Church's Chicken, Cinnabon and Seattle's Best Coffee - as their Director of International business. During the 1990's I visited over 60 countries and successfully established these franchise systems in over 30 countries. Thanks to the many wonderful people that coached and mentored me during those years, I literally gained a lifetime of experience in the franchise business.
Since 2002, I have been given the wonderful opportunity to share my experiences in the franchise business by providing coaching services to individuals considering buying a franchise. My objective in this book is the same as in my practice. I want to match the right person to the right franchise and, in the process, share my knowledge about the franchise business.Buying a franchise is an important decision. I know this book will help you.
The Book
The Educated Franchisee is more than just a book about buying a franchise - it's a book that also helps you decide if you should buy a franchise. All too often, when people suggest they may be interested in buying a franchise, advice is overflowing from friends, relatives, colleagues and a variety of so-called experts.
Chances are, they all may be wrong.
But if you're looking for a practical, easy-to-understand guide that helps you arrive at clear-cut answers to why and how you should buy a franchise business, The Educated Franchisee is the ideal tool for you.
Prior to writing The Educated Franchisee, we sat down to define our mission statement. It is as follows -
‘To create educated franchise buyers that have clearly defined objectives and are able to recognize the right, or wrong, franchise when they see it. Ideally an educated franchisee will move into the franchisee role with their expectations properly set and, as a result, will have a heightened potential for success within the franchise system creating a win/win for all involved.
Always remember that buying a franchise is not the destination, it is the vehicle. To have a safe trip you need a clear destination, a detailed map and a reliable vehicle. The Educated Franchisee is designed to help you at all three levels.
As you would expect, The Educated Franchise contains a wealth of useful franchise information designed to help you make a well informed business decision regarding buying a franchise - this is the vehicle. But buying a franchise is only part of the equation.
The Educated Franchisee also seeks to increase a new franchisees potential for success when buying a franchise. This is accomplished by properly defining your ideal business model prior to jumping into a full fledged examination of various franchise alternatives. The Educated Franchisee also provides you with information that will allow you to properly set your expectations as a franchisee and preserve your positive focus on success. This is both the map and the destination.
All three parts are critical when buying a franchise. Be deliberate and thorough in your preparation ... and your chances of a successful journey will be greatly improved. Educated Franchisee is a critical tool if you are seriously considering buying a franchise.
"Rick has rewritten the expression ‘live and learn' to say ‘study, learn ... and earn.' For someone thinking about business ownership, that approach is more powerful and relevant."
- David G. McKinnon - IFA Entrepreneur of the Year - 2001, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman of Service Brands International (Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman, 1-800-Dry Clean, Ductz Air Duct Cleaning).
"Becoming a business owner is scary, and for good reason if you don't know exactly what to do to be successful. The Educated Franchisee takes stress out of the process and gives you everything you need to make confident, smart decisions. This book will be your most valuable ally as you discover the lucrative and exciting world of franchise ownership."
- Larina Kase PsyD, MBA, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Confident Speaker and Business Coach to franchisees.
"Fear is a good motivator. So is wealth. This book shows they can work together to help you find success as an entrepreneur in franchising."
- Frank Carney - Co-Founder Pizza Hut - Current Franchisee Papa John's Pizza
"The power of knowledge when met with the ability to dream come together in a fantastic roadmap that is The Educated Franchisee. Whether it is understanding what makes a good entrepreneur or, taking that a step further, what makes a good franchise, this book gives a frank and honest picture of dreams in a very real world of possibilities. The world of business and franchising. Read and learn."
- Dina Dwyer-Owens, Chairwoman and CEO, The Dwyer Group
"If you're wondering whether it's time for a change in life - this is a must read! It's filled with insights and useful nuggets of information. Let Rick's experience and wisdom be your guide to understanding how to harness the power of franchising."
- Lori Kiser-Block, President, FranChoice, Inc.
"Rick Bisio's effort to help prospective franchise investors gain the education and knowledge they need to enter the exciting world of franchising is an important undertaking in a rapidly-growing industry. His experience as a franchise professional gives him special insights into the needs of those new to franchising."
- Matthew R. Shay, President, International Franchise Association
"As a new franchisee, the knowledge and teaching Rick shares in this book is invaluable. In many ways becoming an entrepreneur is like going into space - the better you prepare, the lower the risk. This book will help you plan for a safe and exciting voyage."
- Andy Allen - NASA Astronaut (Pilot 1992 and 1994, Mission Commander 1996), Top Gun Pilot, Franchisee of BounceU.
"The Educated Franchisee is a "must read" for anyone thinking about or actively pursuing a franchise business. Read it and save yourself enormous amounts of time and money!"
- John Hewitt is the Founder and CEO of Liberty Tax Service , Co-Founder of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and the IFA Entrepreneur of the Year 2006. Mr. Hewitt is the only individual to have founded two top 10 ranked franchise systems.
"The Educated Franchisee provides the small businessperson the tools to achieve "The American Dream" of successful ownership. Rick's approach makes it easy to take the journey toward wealth creation. A must read for any potential franchisee!"
- Jon Luther - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin Brands, Former President of Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits, Winner of the IMFA 2007 Gold Plate Award, Chain Leader's 2006 Leadership award and Nation's Restaurant News Golden Chain Award.
"From the psychology of success to financing alternatives - it is all here. Powerfully written in a no nonsense style. If The Educated Franchisee cannot get you there, no book will! Rick Bisio has coached thousands of people to wonderful life decisions - including me."
- Ford Kyes, ActionCOACH Firm franchisee owner and former CEO, St. Anthony's Health Care, St. Petersburg, Florida.
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