First, the most important thing you require understanding is that for the most part a Business that is a Franchise Opportunity is going to be a large commitment on both the financial and time level. This is important to point out as many people start to look at franchises as a way out of the rat race, only to find they are now committed to a “job" they have purchased for themselves.



There are many things that are alluring about a Bricks and Mortar type business, which most franchises are. There is the feeling of ownership. Walking into a structure that you are an owner of can be a very powerful feeling. It somehow feels more real when you can drive to your Franchise location and see it there, and in the case of Franchise Opportunities there is no guesswork as to how to conduct your business.

The upside to Franchising: It’s duplication and you are not reinventing the wheel. It is your business; you are no longer an employee. Following guidelines and working the business accordingly, will – over time – see a profit. (At least most of the time.)

Other considerations regarding Franchising: While there are some smaller home based type franchises, with smaller profit potential, many if not most entrepreneurs seek out the higher profit potential. In these cases most, if not all, Franchise opportunities will have employees. That means people working for you. While that sounds great, especially if you are still working for someone else, this opens a whole plethora of considerations that simply come with having employees. Even as the business owner, you will still require to be on the premises and at that business often before your workers get there and after they have gone home. They are there for the paycheck; you are there because it’s your business. This means rush hour traffic remains a daily experience and long hours, at least for the first couple of years can be counted on. Also, if you like to get creative with your business ideas, please be aware that Franchises are dictated by their own rules and regulations and sometimes those realities may not concur with your creativity. Over all investment for the higher yield and more popular Franchise can be up into the multiple six-figure range, and projected profits are usually not seen until the 3rd year, sometimes longer and you will always pay royalties. (Not to mention health care, or employee taxes etc…)

That said. It is not my intention to steer you clear of Franchises. For many it is exactly what they crave and desire at this time in their professional lives. If that is you that’s great, make sure to do your research and really interview the Franchise, at least to the same degree they will interview you, they may like you as a candidate, however you may find at the end of your due diligence that you do not care for them!

Choose wisely, and make sure you are clear on what you want out of your franchise experience.

Best franchise game plan in my opinion is a 10 – 12 year plan. Plan on that type of commitment, diversifying your profits as you start to receive them, consider owning more than one, and find great people to run your businesses.

Worst game plan. Start thinking you are going get rich quickly.

If after reading this article however you find that you have some about the thoughts whole Franchise reality that hadn’t crossed you mind before, than perhaps there are other options out there that may serve your purpose and intention a lot better.

If lifestyle, time freedom and living your life versus being chained to a desk or a job, even if you are the “owner" of that job, is what you are truly seeking than the truth be told, the world of Franchising may not be the right fit for you.

Sometimes it’s a challenge to know what it is you are really looking for and gaining clarity is so important. I know, I’ve been there too.

Not too long ago my husband and myself were in the same boat, caught on our own hamster wheel and looking for a way out. Because, like you, we were looking for big profits – after all we have some big dreams – I explored Franchise opportunities. Not knowing what I know now, I spent a lot of time looking at things that ultimately were not going to get us where we wanted to be and luckily in this case – probably spurned on by the dollars required to get started, we made this decision before committing ourselves, which I discovered was a good thing, since some Franchises also have a non-refundable application fee. We discovered the world of direct marketing (I don’t mean MLM) and have not looked back since. Since we have become entrepreneurs we have enjoyed a massive income and freedom. We work from home – well, I’ve worked from the beach, by the pool and in the mountains – we answer to no one and we are having the time of our lives. So… We made the right decision.

That was the fuel for me to write this article, because I spent so much time figuring these things out and made some expensive decisions along the way. Being that time is the most precious commodity we have, it is my intention this article has assisted you in determining if the Franchise path is right for you.

May you have every success you deserve and more than you can imagine.

This article is written solely from my own experiences and self-education garnered when I was seeking an opportunity. The above statements are intended solely as food for thought and to assist anyone who is thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.