Embarking down the path of franchise ownership will change your life. It can also be daunting. With over 4,000 franchise concepts available and 759,236 franchise locations out there, how can you go about choosing the one that fits your personality, wants, business style, and support requirements?

6 Minute Read

You hear about franchising every day. Chances are, you spend money in franchised businesses every day as well. Just how big is the franchising way of doing business in 2016 America? In terms of sheer numbers—jobs, revenues, dollars in the economy, people employed—it’s massive. It has never been easier to fund a franchise!

At its core, a franchise is simply a way of doing business—a method that works for providing a service or delivering goods to a consumer.

By Pete Gilfillan, best-selling author of HIRE YOURSELF: Control Your Own Destiny through Franchise Ownership.

Job searches can be frustrating and deflating for the unemployed or for anyone seeking new career opportunities. Your old executive salary is gone and you need to replace it.

I’m always amazed at the tremendous ingenuity franchisors show in coming up with new ways to implement the franchise model and make it profitable. For example, look at the Massage Envy concept. This franchisor took a traditional small business and created a win/win model that provides value to everyone involved. Customers get discounted massage services by having memberships; franchisees get a reliably steady stream of income from membership dues. The concept created a whole new segment in franchising—one I think we’ll be seeing more of in the future.

The leap from investigating a franchise to buying one requires a reality check from any potential investor. Franchise loans are out there, but getting selected as a franchisee has different requirements. Funding is important, but it isn't the only step to financing your first location. There are three main components that will determine if you are financially solvent and solid enough to buy into the franchise you choose: your net worth, your liquid capital, and your credit history.

Putting together a solid business plan before you file any applications or sit down with a finance company, a loan officer—even with a family member—will help you make a clear, compelling case for funding. It is also the first step to successful franchise management. You've gone through your options and now a plan is the best way to have a clear path and direction when owning a franchise.

Your business plan should include each of these basic components if you want to make sure your franchise management is solid.

Plans and Goals are important, listen to pete and nat's ideas on how you can master goal setting