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Kim Ellis Articles

Written by: Kim Ellis

What’s Your Franchising Aptitude? Learn what it takes to be a successful franchisee - Click To Read Article
The thought of being your own boss can sound pretty wonderful to someone tired of working 50 to 60 hours a week to make money for some impersonal corporation. And there is probably no better way to be self-employed than by buying a franchise and taking advantage of all that franchising has to offer: a tried and proven business model, initial and continuing training, an operations manual, a recognizable brand identity, corporate buying power, a national marketing program and often much more.

Do You Have What it Takes to Be Successful as a Franchise Owner? - Click To Read Article
Have you ever wondered if you have the personality and skills to be a successful franchisee? There are over 2500 franchise companies operating in the US, each requiring a plethora of different skill sets in a franchise owner.

How to Evaluate a Franchisor’s Training Program - Click To Read Article
For a woman interested in buying a franchise, evaluating the training a franchise business offers should involve even greater research – after all, this is about your future – not a vacation.

Do You Follow Marked Trails or Bushwhack Through the Bush? - Click To Read Article
Your Style Can Predict Whether Franchise Ownership is Right For You If you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own business, you’re not alone. The desire for the autonomy and financial security that being your own boss can provide has never been more prevalent than it is today. There are many reasons for this but a main one would have to be that as big business gets bigger, the value of the individual employee is diminished and people are fed up with being disposable. Owning a business is a great way for a woman to take charge of her future.

What type of franchise suits YOU? Taking it step by step - Click To Read Article
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.

Why You Should Keep Mum to Mom - Click To Read Article
Carefully consider who to listen to when considering a franchise purchase. For years you’ve listened to your mom’s sage advice: “Turn off the lights,” and “Save your money” Most of the time that advice was pretty good and many times you even followed it. Now don’t tell your mom I said so, but there’s one time when your mother’s advice may not help you and that’s when you are about to invest in a franchise opportunity.

What Do You Need to Pass a Franchisor’s Test? - Click To Read Article
Buying a franchise is a lot like marriage. Two parties enter into a relationship with the expectation of mutual benefit, long-term support and common goals. When entering into marriage, both people spend a great deal of time learning about each other and making sure they are a good match before making the commitment. The same is true for franchising. Both the franchisor and the franchisee gather information about each other and evaluate whether there is a good match. Although it may not be immediately evident, a franchise company is under no obligation to award a franchise to just anyone who can afford the franchise fee. In many cases a franchisor has as much or more at risk when a franchisee fails.

Does Size Truly Matter? - Click To Read Article
Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of large vs. small franchise systems. Sometimes size does matter. When talking about a piece of chocolate cake – bigger is always better. When evaluating new cell phones – smaller gets the nod. In franchising, there are some advantages to being part of a large franchise system and other advantages to joining a small system. The question is not, “Which is better?” but “Which is better for you?”

How to Buy a Franchise – Step 1 - Click To Read Article
What to do before you begin searching for a franchise. You’ve thought about it for years and you’re finally ready to make the leap into business ownership. It’s time to be your own boss, to be the one in charge of your financial future – your destiny. Because you are a smart woman, you want to avoid making mistakes along the way. 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? What kind of franchise would be best? Where do you even start, with thousands of franchise opportunities available?

Taking it Step by Step - What to do BEFORE you begin searching for a franchise - Click To Read Article
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.

The Franchise Timeline - Click To Read Article
Guidelines for how long it should take to open a new franchise. Susan, a bright, energetic and make believe person, has decided to become a business owner by buying a franchise. She understands that there are many steps to the process and asks me how long it will take before she will be able to open the doors to her business. Figuring she wouldn’t be satisfied if I told her that it could take anywhere from several months to a year or longer, more or less, I came up with the following timeline.

The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular - Click To Read Article
Just How Important is the UFOC? I started playing golf about 10 years ago and over time have come to love the game. Although technique is a large part of what drives many golfers back to the greens, golf also has a very specific set of rules that define the game and create an equal playing field. The rules spell out how to play, how to keep score and how to determine a winner.

Why Franchising Attracts Women Entrepreneurs - Click To Read Article
Have you ever wondered what it would take to leave the corporate world behind and own your own business? Are you tired of being the go-to girl, a small fish in a big sea, earning money for someone else? Is it time to take charge of your future and really be in control of your destiny?

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About the Author: Kim Ellis
RSS for Kim's articles - 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.

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More from Kim Ellis
The Franchise Timeline
The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular
How to Evaluate a Franchisors Training Program
Do You Follow Marked Trails or Bushwhack Through the Bush
Does Size Truly Matter


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