Small Business Franchises

Winmark Corporation

Guide to Franchise Opportunity Listings

Buying a franchise? Where to look and what to look for
By Matt Alderton

Franchises are like food: There's something out there to suit everyone's tastes. As such, a franchise can be the perfect business for a budding entrepreneur. The options are incredibly diverse, and the business models — already developed and refined by someone else — proven. With a minimal investment, franchisees get the inspiration and support they need to become the business owners they dream of being.

So, where to start? Franchise opportunity listings are the ideal spot to begin your research. In reviewing them, be sure to consider:

1. Demand
2. Competition
3. Cost
4. Commitment

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start on the Web You'll find a huge number of franchise offerings on specialty Web sites, with listings conveniently sorted by business type (such as automotive, restaurant, home-based) and location. You can see the investment needed for each franchise and read a pitch from the franchisor about the training and support they give their franchisees. Online contact forms will put you in touch with the franchisor for more information.

I recommend:  Go to Franchise Solutions, Franchise Gator, Franchise Opportunities or type "franchise opportunities" into your favorite search engine.

Browse association listings For more exclusive listings plus educational material, try local and national trade groups.

I recommend:  The International Franchise Association (IFA), the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD) and the American Franchisee Association (AFA) are the country's main franchisee trade groups; visit their Web sites to browse electronic opportunity listings, order print directories and more.

Consult business directories Business directories can be excellent places to find just about anything — including franchise opportunities.

I recommend:  Search business directories at AllBusiness and Yahoo! for a wealth of franchise opportunities.

Look to trade magazines B2B magazines often function as virtual libraries for entire industries. Many collect and publish classified ads especially for their niche readers.

I recommend:  Franchise Times and Franchise International feature dozens of franchise listings online and in print and offer industry news and surveys as well.

Ask a search firm Too busy to spend your time sifting through hundreds of franchise listings? Hire a professional to do the searching for you.

I recommend:  Entrepreneur Connections offers a free consultation service, called FranChoice, designed to connect entrepreneurs with the franchise opportunities that are most suitable to them based upon their needs and goals.

Avoid traps Don't rely on listings alone to sell you on a concept. Do some research and consult existing franchisees to get an honest picture of the opportunity.

I recommend:  FranSurvey.com rates franchise opportunities using information gathered from existing franchisees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Once you've identified a potential opportunity, research the franchisor further at Hoovers. Also, request from the franchisor a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC), which will contain all the information you need about a given opportunity.
• The most useful franchise listings will include a company history, unit count, geographical opportunities, application prerequisites and investment requirements.