Buying a Franchise : Insider's Guide to Success

A Message from BBB President Steven Cole iii What Is the Better Business Bureau? iv How to Check on a Company viii How to File a Complaint x About the Planning Shop xii SECTION 1: FOLLOW YOUR DREAM TO FRANCHISE OWNERSHIP What a Good Franchise Can Do for You 4(6) The Wide, Wide World of Franchises 10(9) The Franchise Players 19(7) SECTION 2: ARE YOU A FRANCHISE PERSON? Who's the Boss? 26(4) What Kind of Franchise Person Are You? 30(7) It Takes a Village 37(5) SECTION 3: FIND THE RIGHT FRANCHISE FOR YOU Seventeen Steps to Franchise Ownership 42(9) Assess Franchise Opportunities 51(10) Where to Search for Franchise Opportunities 61(15) SECTION 4: HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? Cost Overview 76(14) How Much Will You Make? 90(4) SECTION 5: THE UFOC AND FRANCHISE AGREEMENT The Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) 94(8) The Franchise Agreement 102(20) SECTION 6: DUE DILIGENCE Interview other Franchisees 122(9) Interview the Franchisor 131(13) SECTION 7: FINANCE YOUR FRANCHISE Start-up Funding 144(4) Explore Your Financing Options 148(13) Write the Franchise Business Plan 161(6) Welcome to the World of Franchise Ownership 167(18) SECTION 8: RESOURCES To research potential franchises and any complaints about them 172(1) Franchise trade organizations 172(2) Franchise research and analysis 174(1) Help from experienced businesspeople 175(2) Websites 177(2) Print directories 179(2) Trade shows, conferences, and seminars 181(2) Magazines 183(2) Glossary of Common Franchise Terms 185(4) Sample Franchise Agreement (Excerpt) 189(18) Index 207(6) Acknowledgments 213