You've asked two great questions. The key to the first question is that you've actually taken the time to set goals that you want your business to accomplish. This is fantastic because it is going... (more)

Sorry to say but you're definitely going to need a lawyer for this one--in fact, an experienced franchise attorney. There are two reasons for this. The first is that a franchise contract is one... (more)

The best way is to solicit potential investors who already know you and have reason to be confident in your abilities. The financing market is very difficult and has been for the past couple of... (more)

There are three steps involved in coming up with the right answer to this very important question. Each is important and you need to have positive answers at each step in order for your business to... (more)

Preparing a proper franchise agreement is a very important job because you're going to have to live with any mistakes for many years. The bottom line is that you need to seek the advice and... (more)

Resales can be great but never forget the adage, "Let the buyer beware!" As part of your due diligence, one of the most important bits of information you'll want to make sure you know... (more)

You are smart to focus on which franchises are doing the best in these tough times. Sometimes they aren't companies that are growing rapidly but they are great opportunities in recessions, so that... (more)

There's no right or wrong answer to your question without more information being available. Both independent business opportunities and franchises can be great, or they can be bad--it all depends... (more)

First things first--your question assumes that it is a good idea for you to set up a LLC. Unless you have already gotten advice on the type of entity best suited for your needs, I would broaden... (more)

You're in luck! It is much easier to get a good answer to your question in the case of buying an existing franchise because it already has an operating history you can review. You can... (more)

A franchise is a license, though you usually don't find someone so focused on language minutia that they make a big deal out of the distinction in the sense of business opportunities. The term... (more)

This is a great question but the answer is not necessarily direct or clear. There are at least two big issues involved in a bankruptcy that you want to stay far away from, if at all possible.... (more)

It sounds like you have multiple challenges to deal with. First is the licensing issue--there are 14 states that require franchise companies to register with the state prior to selling franchises... (more)

Even good litigation attorneys will tell you that you want to explore every possible option for resolving a conflict before you lawyer-up and go to court. It does sound like you've got a point... (more)

Sad but true--this is a frustration that many people experience when investigating in a franchise opportunity. The FTC, which regulates the sales process in franchising, allows a company to... (more)

Yes--buying an existing franchise business is a transaction that falls within the acceptable parameters of SBA loans, but that's not saying you will be able to get one. SBA loans can cover... (more)

Traditional investors, angel investors or lenders will be your best avenues to search for interested parties. Most investors will want to see a business plan and know how much you have invested... (more)

There are quite a few strategies to grow a small business during a recession--both online and offline. Blogging: Most blogging software is free. It doesn't take long to get up and running. And... (more)

This industry is one of my personal favorites. There is nothing sexy or exciting about commercial cleaning except for the fact that it is usually a wonderful, successful business that is almost... (more)

Let's cut right to the chase--the reason to buy a franchise is that if it is a good one it is a far safer strategy than starting an independent business on your own. You pay fees, but in... (more)