Franchise Articles & Interviews
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Cutting edge ideas, people, resources and technologies that are shaping the future of alternative investments
Sarasota, FL--Rick Bisio is the author of the book, The Educated Franchisee, a franchise consultant and coach for people considering entering into a franchise. At a recent interview, Rick explained, "When it comes to buying a franchise, there are a lot of resources available. Few of them, however, will truly prepare you for the decision of whether or not to purchase a franchise. I found this out the hard way when my wife and I invested in our first franchise."
Rick explained how investing in a new or existing franchise is different than buying an existing business and thus requires a different focus of evaluation. Although buying a book about small business ownership may be helpful, there are many franchise-specific issues and considerations that an investor should address before deciding to take the leap into franchise ownership.
Rick Bisio, one of the most successful franchise consultants in the industry, has recently released a book titled "The Educated Franchisee." In it, he distills the information he's learned not only from being a franchisee, but also from coaching hundreds (perhaps thousands) of individuals through the process of deciding whether a franchise is right for them.
Bisio clearly has a grasp of the one of the most important considerations when looking at a franchise opportunity. Rick said, "buying a franchise is not the destination, it is the vehicle." With this in mind, the book aims to address the question of whether a franchise is the proper vehicle for achieving an individual's personal and financial goals. At the end of the book, the reader should be able to answer the three crucial questions any serious investor should consider:
1. Is a franchise right for me?
2. How do I find the right franchise opportunity?
3. What should I expect out of franchise ownership?
If you've been considering small business ownership and are open to the idea of a franchise, Rick recommends getting a copy of "The Educated Franchisee" to ensure you are making the right decision to invest your time, energy and hard-earned dollars in a franchise business.
It's also a no-risk scenario. Bisio is offering a 100% refund if the book doesn't "[help] you decide which franchise opportunity [is] best for you or [educate] you whether buying a franchise [is] the right move." Purchase your copy now at http://www.educatedfranchisee.com
Contact:
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
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
By Rick Bisio
The Educated Franchisee
Yesterday I received this interesting question from one of my candidates:
Hi Rick....quick question.....in talking with a friend this weekend......wondering: is there an opportunity to earn a six figure income with a franchise that is strictly home office-based?...all communication done by phone, email, fax, UPS etc.......
- Ernie
Unfortunately, this "quick question" doesn't have a quick, easy answer!
Let's start with the value equation as it relates to franchising. The role of the franchisor is to bring a superior operating system including a protected brand name, training, support, technology and a successful track record. A franchisee is expected to bring a strong work ethic, localized expertise, a customer focused approach and the willingness to market and promote the business. Most franchise systems are more successful with local owners in charge of the operation. Earlier in my career, our franchised restaurant units always out-performed our company-managed locations. A local owner makes a big difference in franchising because they usually have a vested interest in the community and work harder to achieve their goals.
The problem with sitting at home in front of a computer and phone is that you are not adding much value. In most cases you are simply conducting work. Regardless of how hard you work, your business will never be as successful as when you marry your work with a localized effort to reach out to other people, build relationships and establish a reputation in your local community.
If you want to spend the bulk of your time on the computer and phone, you might want to look at a category called ‘Business Opportunities.' Some ‘Business Opportunities' try to sell educational programs. Others call for the investor to provide labor. I received this email today:
‘This online business changed my life!
Easy Craigslist Income - Just another day at the office.
Get a free CD that can show you the lazy way to make money online
using Craigslist to make a fortune.'
This is most likely an example of a 'Business Opportunity' selling products or services for someone on Craigslist. Yesterday, I received an identical email advertisement with the word ‘EBay' substituted for ‘Craigslist.'
Another recent solicitation said . . .
‘Work at Home - Easy Work - Great pay - Start today.
No prior experience, education or special skills required.'
There are many similar ‘opportunities' that land in email inboxes every day. So, can you make a six figure income with these types of ‘opportunities?' Quite frankly, I don't know. There is no requirement that the seller provide any type of information regarding earnings or success, nor do they have to provide a complete list of people that have used their ‘system' to make ‘easy Craigslist income' or ‘great pay.'
You might ask for a list of their current partners so you can randomly contact them and evaluate their success for yourself before making a decision. This may not be required by law, but if their response to your request for more detailed information is not satisfactory, it may provide a strong indication about their level of business success overall.
There are also hot new distributorships such as MonaVie. These types of business opportunities are now required to share basic earnings information. A review of the 2007 MonaVie Income Disclosure Statement shows that approximately 9% of individuals that have joined MonaVie have achieved Distributor status. Nine out of 10 Distributors have a gross income of less than $9,000/year. And 99% of Distributors have a gross income of less than $100,000 per year. No information is provided regarding Net Income. To be fair, many people look at these types of business opportunities as a way to make supplemental income and may choose to work part-time while keeping another job. The income earned may be acceptable based on the amount of time and effort they commit.
If ‘Business Opportunities' are not going to work for you, you might like to consider consulting. Becoming a successful consultant earning a six figure income rarely involves just sitting behind a desk or a computer all day. The first thing needed is subject matter expertise and training. Once you have this, you need to get out in the local community and market and sell your services.
As a veteran franchise consultant, my path to success absolutely required getting out of the office and building relationships while also providing a consistently high level of subject matter expertise. Even today, I am still very involved in activities across Florida. Last week I was in Tampa, Sarasota and in Naples meeting with people and conducting presentations. Consulting is about building a reputation and meeting people.
In summary, there are many business ownership paths to examine including home-based and office-based businesses. The trick is to find the ‘opportunity' that offers you the greatest chance of success and meets your lifestyle and income requirements. You need information to make an informed decision and the willingness to commit the time and energy to get out in the local community and make something happen. In addition, you may encounter setbacks. You will have to stick with it during the start-up phase and understand it may take a time to make the six figure income you desire.
There are no easy roads. It all takes effort. So, next time someone says they want to sit at home all day and make a six figure income, ask them if they are looking for a business or a job. And if you hear of an ‘Easy way to immediately start making big money,' don't walk away from it - RUN!
This article was written by Rick Bisio of FranChoice Consulting. If you would like to learn more about how to identify a great franchise businesses and stacking the deck in your favor, go to http://www.educatedfranchisee.com or buy the book - The Educated Franchisee - on Amazon.com. Rick's books and articles cover everything you need to know about buying a franchise, owning a franchise, franchising skills and requirements, finding the right franchise, recognizing great business opportunities, starting and building your own business and more about business franchises.
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
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
By Rick Bisio
The Educated Franchisee
We all know who I am talking about. They are always following the latest trends, buying the new concept car and spending all night in line to buy the latest iPod. These folks want to be part of the ‘in crowd' and feel that there is safety in having what everyone else says they want. They are always looking for the perfect school, spouse, church, house and business. Most of all, they are never satisfied, always wondering if they have the best.
So what's wrong with this you may ask? Nothing, so long as you know what you are doing and recognize the fact that chasing the latest thing, while exciting, is not always the most reliable. Why is this? Well let's use franchising as a case study.
There have been a number of hot and sexy concepts in franchising. How about the home meal replacement craze from a few years ago lead by Boston Market? Five years ago the hot and sexy concept was Ebay Stores where you can drop off your extra items and they will sell on Ebay for you. A couple of years ago we were all drooling over the dinners-to-go concepts such and Super Supper and many others. This year we have been watching Cold Stone Creamery begin to sputter. All of these concepts were hot and now they are not and investor/entrepreneurs were divorced from their money. Why is this?
The reason is quite simple. These franchises are hot and sexy because they are NEW ideas in unproven industries. The thing to remember about unproven ideas and industries is that, by definition, they are unproven. These businesses have a significantly higher risk/reward ratio. If you corner the local market with a new idea then there is a great reward; however, if the idea or industry is just another fad, then the business will probably falter regardless of the skill and effort you put forth.
If you are the kind of person that tends to chase the latest hot trends, you know there is a risk to this. The new cell phone that you wanted may not be all that it is cracked up to be and the new concept car may be more concept than car. New, hot and sexy businesses are no different - so don't expect them to be.
Having been born and raised in the ‘Show Me' state of Missouri and as the author of The Educated Franchisee, I am all about making sure something is proven before parting with my money. Quite simply, I want to stack the deck in my favor. To do this you have give up on your concept of ‘hot and sexy' and instead focus on ‘tried and true'.
‘Tried and true' would include franchisors that have been around for a few years in proven, mature industries. Try painting, house cleaning, aged care, hair cutting, window washing or even taxes. Boring as it may sound; this is the most predictable path to business success. Even though there is more competition, you also know there is demand today and will be demand tomorrow. A high quality, proven franchisor will be able to provide you with a superior approach to securing and retaining customers thus allowing you to control an appropriate share of the local market.
Remember, the latest hot trend can cool off. Become an educated franchisee and stack the deck in your favor.
This article was written by Rick Bisio of FranChoice Consulting. If you would like to learn more about how to identify a great franchise businesses and stacking the deck in your favor, go to http://www.educatedfranchisee.com or buy the book - The Educated Franchisee - on Amazon.com. Rick's books and articles cover everything you need to know about buying a franchise, owning a franchise, franchising skills and requirements, finding the right franchise, recognizing great business opportunities, starting and building your own business and more about business franchises
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
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
By Rick Bisio
The Educated Franchisee
When it comes to franchise ownership, you may be open almost any type of franchise. However, just as you are better suited to certain jobs, you are also better suited to certain franchises. So instead of the clichéd "thinking outside the box," why not build your own box ... a box that makes the most sense for you.
It is critical to build your box carefully and then analyze each franchise opportunity based on whether it is a good match to your skills and your vision. How do you do this? Simply ask yourself, "Would I hire myself to manage this franchise?" Go through your skills and your vision and see if the argument is strong that you will be able to successfully drive the franchise.
Another question you may ask yourself is, "Even if I lose all passion for the product or service, will I still be able to run the franchise effectively and competently?"
Consider Jim the Golfer. Jim was a top-tier sales executive seeking a career change. He felt the itch to test himself as an entrepreneur. As an avid golfer, he thought buying a golf franchise might be a great fit for him.
But when he got into the franchise and discovered that the business was more about counting golf balls then striking golf balls ... well, his disenchantment was predictable. The skills of running a golf store were not the same skills he had employed as a tremendously successful sales person.
Jim proved to be a bad match for a golf store, but what would be a good match for him? Well, Jim's skill set could be ideal for operating a temporary employment services company. That type of business is a great match for a sales person who likes to "hunt" for new business and succeeds by building relationships. In addition, Jim would likely be able to play a lot of golf while entertaining clients. He certainly likes to play golf and he didn't get to do much of that in his retail golf franchise!
That's what I mean by "thinking inside the box," a box you build for yourself.
Make sure you end up with a franchise that will give you the highest chance of success. Not the one your neighbor suggests or the one to which you have an emotional attachment or one that you saw on TV. You need to end up with a franchise that fits your skills and will give you the highest opportunity of success.
You will need to build a comprehensive profile of your current skills and define each skill with as much detail as you can. You will also need to make sure any franchise you review will match your longer term goals. In essence, you are building your own box criteria for a successful match and working to make sure that any franchise you review fits.
Remember, in the end you will own a "business." You will not own a "golf franchise" or a "chocolate franchise" or a "fitness franchise." You will own a franchise with core skill requirements. Match your skill and ability to the franchise model and you will greatly improve your chance for success and happiness.
That's what I mean by "thinking inside the box," a box you build for yourself.
This article was written by Rick Bisio of FranChoice Consulting. If you would like to learn more about how to identify a great franchise businesses and stacking the deck in your favor, go to http://www.educatedfranchisee.com or buy the book - The Educated Franchisee - on Amazon.com. Rick's books and articles cover everything you need to know about buying a franchise, owning a franchise, franchising skills and requirements, finding the right franchise, recognizing great business opportunities, starting and building your own business and more about business franchises.
Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
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
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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