Resources to help you in your search for a franchise

For a limited time, we're offering the opportunity to get your "Independence in Franchising" score ABSOLUTELY FREE! We'll measure your responses to our database of thousands of successful franchisees and give you your own "Independence in Franchising" score.

Complete the questionnaire, and your FREE Independence in Franchising score will be generated based on your responses to 9 questions. There's absolutely NO COST OR OBLIGATION to receive your own "Independence in Franchising" score.

Or you could be struggling to make ends meet and wondering why your business never "took off".

After several years managing a parts department for a local car dealership, a friend of mine decided to venture out on his own and opened a muffler repair franchise. It looked like a winner.

Everyone who knew my friend liked him because he had a way of making others feel special. He seemed like just the sort of person who would do well running his own business. But after just one year, he closed his doors and went back to work for another dealership.

I later asked him why his franchise had not succeeded. He told me, "You know, I'm not sure. It seemed like such a great idea. But I guess I just wasn't happy with the long hours, the customer demands and the unreliable employees. It just wasn't for me."

This story may sound familiar. The fact is, nice, well-meaning people often pursue business opportunities for the wrong reasons. And as it turned out, my friend - who would rate highly on any personality profile - wasn't a great candidate for running a franchise. Who would have known?

A free PDF booklet published by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Table of Contents includes:

• What is Franchising?
• Benefits of a Franchise.
• Investigate Your Options
• Personal Assessment
• Obtaining Professional Advise and
• Appendix: Information Resources

Download your FREE copy of "Evaluating Franchise Opportunities" below.

Want to be your own boss? A franchise or business opportunity may sound appealing, especially if you have limited resources or business experience.
However, you could lose a significant amount of money if you don’t investigate a business carefully before you buy.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule requires franchise and business opportunity sellers to give you specific information to help you make an informed decision.

Download your copy of the FTC Facts for Consumers brochure below.

Early in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Russell H. Conwell, founder of Temple University in Philadelphia, traveled around the United States giving his famous "Acres of Diamonds" lecture.

This e-book presents his classic lecture that is still as relevant today as it was back then. There are timeless stories included here that will:

•  help you uplift your spirit,
• look at customer service and business in new ways,
• provide real-life examples of the power of the mind,
• tips on public speaking, and
• much, much more.

This free PDF printed by the U.S. Government's Federal Trade Commission is loaded with information that you need to know before you buy a franchise.

The chapters include:

1. The Benefits and Responsibilities of Franchise Ownership,
2. Before Selecting a Franchise System
3. Selecting Franchise
4. Shopping at a Franchise Exposition
5. Investigating Franchise Offerings.

Download your FREE copy of "A Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise" below.