Thursday, February 11, 2010

How to Choose the Best Franchise Ideas

Are you interested in starting your own company but are worried about an idea that will sell? If so, consider franchising since you have access to many established and successful franchise ideas to choose from. Without having to worry about something new and original that customers will switch their chosen brands for, you can take advantage of a known brand and business that is already generating profit and open up your own branch of it. It takes a lot of the stress out of marketing a new product and takes advantage of the pre-existing customer base. Unless you want to take a chance with something entirely new, use a franchise directory and start looking for existing franchises for sale and what market you’d like to work in.
You need money to start any new business, and even more so with a franchise since you need to be able to afford to pay for it upfront. The upside is that there is franchise financing which you should take advantage of to free up your saved money to pay for other expenses you will encounter when starting the business. Buying a franchise is also beneficial because you have little legwork to do in terms of marketing yourself or designing extensive advertising campaigns to gain clients. You will have customers right away due to the established brand you will be selling, so if you are weak in the selling department, this is the route for you. However, you will need to support and pay into any marketing strategy or campaign the franchise sets up, and you have little control over how to run your business, sales, design or inventory, since it is all a package deal. A franchise is really the best option only for someone who is looking more to manage their own business than create one, since little creativity is required. Examine your skill set to determine what area of expertise you have to contribute. Don’t choose a franchise in an industry you are interested in but have never worked in unless you are planning to hire a manager to run it for you. Know what you can offer and find a franchise list that supplies available stores in that industry in your area. When you have chosen what you want, create a business plan of your projected costs, profits, plans and changes to bring with you when you apply for franchise finance. This will help you secure your loan and have a plan for the future of your business. When the loan is secure, hire your staff, order your inventory, and put your plan into action.

Source: Franchising Nation, eNewsletter, Team India Managers Ltd

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