If the thought of buying into a franchise conjures up an image of yourself wearing a white hat and asking, “Would you like a coffee with those donuts?” think again.  The world of franchising has expanded way beyond the highway fast-food chains to include many businesses you can easily run on a flexible basis from home.  

The benefits of purchasing a franchise are many.  You get a turn-key business model that includes training, marketing materials and ongoing support.  Rather than wasting your time and money doing research, testing out business ideas and fiddling around with different pricing options, you can hit the ground running with a proven business model.  Equally important, you gain the ongoing support of your franchise community.  Of course, these benefits come with a price tag; the costs of investing in a franchise vary from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars (and you may also need to pay ongoing royalties and other fees as well).  

Like any critical business decision, deciding if a franchise is right for you and then selecting the "perfect" franchise requires careful evaluation, analysis and thought.  Before entering into a franchise agreement you should always consult an attorney.  Below are some resources to help you explore this option: 

To Learn More About Franchise Opportunities:

Article: The Perfect Fit: Women and Franchising

Entrepreneur Magazine offers a wealth of information about franchises through their website, books and magazine.  To access their materials, go to: www.entrepreneur.com

Books:

In addition to the books published by Entrepreneur, here are some recommended reads:

Franchise 101 by Ann Dugan

Franchising for Dummies by Michael Seid and Dave Thomas

Associations:

International Franchise Association, 1350 New York Avenue, NW Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005-4709
Phone: (202) 628-8000

www.franchise.org