Franchise Sizzle!
The Franchise and Biz Op Blog

Many people who are seriously considering investing in a franchise opportunity are wondering if they need to hire a lawyer. After all, this could be expensive and most of them are pretty sure they can understand the contract.

Even if you are pretty sure you understand everything, having a lawyer who specializes in franchise law can be a huge bonus. There are so many things that can slip in under the wire that it helps to have someone with experience go over all the documents you are given by the franchise company. This is just to ensure that everything is on the up and up.

If you don`t understand the contract fully when you sign it, you could be in for trouble down the road. There are simply too many conditions that need to be met in most franchise opportunitiesf to miss out on one and risk being in breach of contract. A franchise lawyer can help you understand everything that is required.

Whether you think you need a lawyer or not, it can be very beneficial to have one to ensure that your franchise experience is the best it can be.

Some food franchises are simply hotter than most and if you are looking for a great franchise opportunity there are a few that you should definitely take a closer look at.

Extreme Pita
Fast food with a difference. This is a great franchise opportunity that mixes health with fast food. Offer something different from the usual burger and fries and cater to the American need to eat well and stay healthy.

Cena to Go
This is a unique food franchise in that you would set up a space for people to come in and make their own food to freeze at prepared stations. These types of services are extremely popular right now, with an entire month of dinners able to be made in just a couple of hours.

Party Time Palace
A great way to celebrate with children, Party Time Palace makes it super simple for parents to celebrate their children`s birthdays without any major preparation. It`s a franchise opportunity for those who are looking for a fun way to get into the restaurant business.

Each of these food-related franchise opportunities is different from your average restaurant or food court stall, but offers big benefits to those who invest.

Lawn Doctor is a lawn care franchise that takes a chore that many people abhor, looking after their lawn, and makes it effortless. Gone are the days of sending your teen out to mow or having dad water the lawn . . . who has time these days? With after school activities and working late, with longer commutes than ever before, the average family just doesn`t have time to look after a lawn.

This franchise opportunity is lower cost than most, since it`s a mobile one. And it is in a growth industry, in 2006, $44.7 billion was spent on lawn care alone! By joining a franchise like Lawn Doctor, you can get a piece of that action.

Another huge advantage of this type of franchise opportunity is that it caters to those who can afford this type of service, meaning that it can be a very lucrative business. All you need to do is remind people how much their property value goes up and how great their lawn will look once you`re done with it.

With over 40 years of experience, the Lawn Doctor is a great way to jump into lawn care with a franchise opportunity. You can enjoy a lucrative business without having to start it from scratch!

Obviously, what the best franchise is will depend entirely on the person who is taking it on. While you might do very well and be extremely happy with a coffeehouse franchise, this could be an absolute nightmare for someone else who would much rather work with an auto repair franchise.

To find the ideal franchise, you need to know more about yourself.

• What types of jobs have you enjoyed in the past and would be willing to do in the future?
• What are your skills and talents?
• What hobbies do you enjoy?

Answering these questions can help you find your way to a franchise that best suits your needs. The next step is to sort through suitable franchise opportunities for one that looks successful.

A franchise that has a history of success and a well-mapped training and action plan is a good bet. If it interests you, falls into the price you are willing to pay and has all the signs of success, chances are, it`s a good franchise to go for.

No one wants to invest in a franchise that ends up going down the drain. While it`s not possible to predict just which franchises are headed for disaster, that doesn`t mean you can`t do your best to avoid them.

Poor planning and training. If a franchise opportunity sounds great, but they are scrambling to find you information and don`t really have any training available, watch out. This franchise probably won`t last long unless they get their act together.

Unprofessional attitude. If you are greeted by a child on the business line, that is usually a good sign that the franchise company isn`t taking the business seriously and you could end up losing it later on.

Poor track record. It`s true that some businesses come back from the brink, but if you are looking at a franchise opportunity that is really being badmouthed and has a history of problems with their franchisees, don`t become another statistic.

A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to avoiding dead-end franchises. You can also help yourself by sticking to trusted websites that list legit franchise opportunities.

It`s nice to choose a franchise in something that you would enjoy doing, but if you aren`t ready to take on the responsibilities involved, you`ll have a hard time making a go of it.

Finding a franchise opportunity that will suit your existing abilities is probably the best way to get a good start. That doesn`t mean you can`t stretch yourself, but choosing to open a mobile auto repair franchise might not be the best idea if you have never had a good relationship with a wrench.

Write down what skills you have and which ones you know you can develop and look for franchises that work within those parameters. You won`t regret it when you find that owning a franchise is hard work. Having time to learn new and difficult skills that are outside your abilities can be very stressful and often a waste of time.

So, look for a franchise that does compliment your abilities and see if you can get into something that you`ll enjoy and be good at.

Most people dread going to work in the morning. It`s hard getting up and then traveling in heavy traffic for an hour or two just to sit in a cubicle for the day and repeat it all in the evening. That`s where franchises come in.

Coffee is a huge part of many commuter`s days. It`s what gets them through those traffic jams and later the long day at work. Coffee franchises are popping up all over and they are a great way to go if you are looking to invest in something that will be popular and fun to run.

While you won`t be picking up a Starbucks franchise anytime soon, that doesn`t rule out a lot of other options. In fact there are plenty of coffeehouse options. You can provide caffeine to the dulling masses and earn good money to boot.

Coffee franchises are a great investment. People love coffee, so if you can offer a solution to the doldrums of commuting, you`ll be a hit.

There`s something soothing even just saying the word “spa”. It conjures up quiet massage rooms, steam baths and relaxation. Franchises that deal with spas and relaxation techniques are quite popular among both clients and franchisees.

By investing in a spa or health franchise, you`ll find that you have a great business on your hands. It`s something that you can enjoy having, too, since it is a very helpful franchise. And who wouldn`t enjoy relaxing with a massage in their own franchise spa?

The majority of spa franchises require quite a bit of money to get started. You`ll need a locale, equipment and to hire employees. Even a fairly small spa is a big investment, so consider it carefully.

However, a spa franchise opportunity is also a great way to go in today`s stressed out society. We all need release and you could be the one giving it.

If you aren`t sure that a franchise opportunity would be a good idea for you, then you need to take a look at these reasons why franchises are great.

1. Work your own hours. This can be a great way to go if you need to have a more flexible schedule, just opt for a work at home franchise.
2. Work harder, earn more. In a typical work setting, you aren`t rewarded for working harder, but if you are working your own franchise, then you will certainly see results.
3. Do what you love. There`s no reason to work in an industry that you don`t enjoy . . . there are franchise opportunities available for any interest.
4. Get started fast. With franchises, you skip a lot of the business startup process that you`d have if you began your own business from scratch. The company will already have everything in place.
5. Take training. Most franchises provide all the training you will need to create a successful business and this alone is worth investing in a franchise.

These are all great reasons to get involved with a franchise, but there are definitely plenty more that you will likely discover as you get involved with your new business.

There is truly nothing more detrimental to franchise success than having your husband or wife against the idea. While you certainly don`t have to have approval for everything you do, a franchise opportunity is a big deal and a big investment and if your spouse isn`t in agreement, it can become a dismal failure.

On the other hand, having your spouse behind you as you invest and get started in your franchise opportunity can easily be the best thing to happen to you. While it doesn`t guarantee success by any means, you`ll have a much easier time if you have the support needed at home.

Often, spouses will chip in to help out with a franchise opportunity and this can be a huge benefit. Sometimes it takes looking at things with a fresh eye to see where improvements can be made. Also, chances are that your spouse is better in some areas than you and this can come in very handy if you need some help.

If your spouse isn`t on your side, it`s a good idea to make it work before you invest in a franchise. Choosing one together can definitely help, as can asking for opinions on your previous choices. Having a spouse to support you is definitely one of the best ways to go into a franchise opportunity.