Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Taking it Step by Step - What to do BEFORE you begin searching for a franchise

Taking it Step by Step - What to do BEFORE you begin searching for a franchise

The lure of franchise ownership can be a heady experience. You imagine the thrill of being your own boss, creating wealth for yourself instead of someone else. But you don’t want to enter the search process unprepared, susceptible to mistakes.

You have so many questions: Will you be happy as a franchisee? Can you make the money you need to provide for yourself and your future? Where do you even start, with thousands of franchise opportunities available?

Before you even begin looking at franchises, you need to do an introspective self-evaluation of your own strengths and challenges. Sit down, get out paper and pen, and as objectively as possible answer these questions:

SKILLS / STRENGTHS
• What part of your current and past jobs have you liked doing the most?
• List your skills and evaluate how well you perform each.
• Describe the work environment that most appeals to you.
• Are you an animal lover? Auto buff? Artistic? What skills/hobbies do you have that may be applicable to a franchise business?
• Are you status conscious? Does it matter to you what the product or service of the franchise is or does the business potential matter more?

CHALLENGES
• What part of your current and past jobs have you liked doing the least?
• List your weakness, those things you’d not want to do or would want to hire someone to do in a business.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS
• Do you have experience managing employees? Did you enjoy it?
• Are you comfortable with recruiting employees?
• Do you have the experience and skill needed to create a work environment that will allow you to retain employees?

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
• How much capital do you have to invest?
• Can you afford to do without a regular income during the start up phase of your new business?
• What are your financial goals?
• How do you see your lifestyle changing as a result of meeting your financial goals?
• How do you feel about taking the risk of becoming self-employed?

ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER?
• Franchising is all about following someone else’s system. Can you picture yourself in this role, executing a system you didn’t create?

Once you have answered these questions, you’ll begin to see a clearer picture of what talents you can bring to a franchise business and what you expect to receive in return. The next step is to start looking at opportunities and evaluating them based on your answers. It may take some effort to find the right franchise so don’t compromise.

Franchise opportunities come in many shapes and sizes and you never need to settle for one that is just not a great fit. There are businesses you can run yourself from your home and others that call for multiple unit locations in upscale malls with numerous employees.

Choosing the franchise opportunity that best matches your needs, interests and style is your greatest assurance of happiness and success.





Taking it Step by Step What to do BEFORE you begin searching for a franchise - To learn more about this author, visit Kim Ellis's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
John Power
John Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website

Anne Barr
Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

John Brennan
John Brennan Ed.D. Dr. Brennan is President of Interpersonal Development, LLC, a training and development firm. Interpersonal Development has provided sales training and coaching to more than 3,000 sales reps from over 100 companies. A native of Australia, Dr. Brennan received his doctorate from the University of Rochester. His dissertation researched the effectiveness of Behavioral Modeling Technology in training people in interpersonal skills. While he has spent most of his career designing or delivering training, he was also a Vice-President of Sales of a training and development franchise with operations in 25 markets. Dr. Brennan has designed and delivered sales training in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. He has been a guest speaker at numerous national and regional professional conferences. When Microsoft wanted Best Practices articles on sales for their web site, they called Dr. Brennan. The results are at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX011387391033.aspx His firm’s clients have included Volvo, The Prudential, Merrill Lynch, Eastman Kodak, Gannett, Equifax Europe, the Economist Group and countless small businesses. - Visit John Brennan's Website

Jay Kubassek
(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek)  In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.

 

As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)

 

Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. 

 

Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper.  Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Kim Ellis
(Visit Kim's Website) Kim Ellis is the President of Bison.com, a leading online resource for franchise and business opportunities. She is a frequent speaker at franchise industry trade shows, conventions and conferences. She has been quoted as an industry expert in USA Today, Wall Street Journal and a variety of local and regional publications regarding trends in business and franchising. Kim combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a diverse background in marketing and operation to help others succeed in franchising. Bison.com features information and articles about selecting and investigating franchise or business opportunities. Bison.com also features guidance and advice from industry experts, free consultations, a financial assessment survey, and a franchise buying guide.

Kim Ellis is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Kim Ellis's

Complete
List Of
Franchises
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Kim Ellis's Complete List of Franchises Articles For FREE!

More Kim Ellis
How to Evaluate a Franchisors Training Program
Whats Your Franchising Aptitude Learn what it takes to be a successful franchisee
Does Size Truly Matter
Why Franchising Attracts Women Entrepreneurs
Taking it Step by Step What to do BEFORE you begin searching for a franchise
What type of franchise suits YOU Taking it step by step
Do You Follow Marked Trails or Bushwhack Through the Bush
The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular
The Franchise Timeline
How to Buy a Franchise Step 1
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
David Barr  
John Power  
John Brennan  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Make Attitude Your Ally Icon Make Attitude Your Ally
Serenity Cards Icon Serenity Cards
One Size Success Icon One Size Success
Instant Yellow Pages Icon Instant Yellow Pages
Webinar Plan Icon Webinar Plan
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Social Entrepreneur Blogs of 2009
Top Social Business Blogs
Top Social Entrepreneur Blogs
 
The Top 10 GTD Times Posts - Best Posts for Productivity
The Top 10 GTD Times Posts
Best Posts for Productivity
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Awa Guèye Pire; Thiès, Senegal,
Awa Guèye
Pire; Thiès, Senegal
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Gord Hotchkiss, $113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Gord Hotchkiss
$113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Jonathan Voigt, $214k to $507k in 2 years
Jonathan Voigt
$214k to $507k in 2 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Ron Popeil, Ronco
Larry Ellison, Oracle
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Tom Peters, In Search Of Excellence
Tom Peters
In Search Of Excellence
Donald J. Trump, Trump University
Donald J. Trump
Trump University
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Marketing Letters that Open Doors
By Susan Regier
     Introductions to Be Remembered
By Susan Regier
     How to Write an Effective News Release
By Susan Regier

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information