Introduction - The Benefits of Franchising

A franchise is a legal arrangement in which the developer (franchisor) of a business concept grants others (franchisees) the licensed right to own and operate a business based on the franchisor's trademarked concept. There are many reasons why people purchase franchises. Some people have an interest in a particular type of business and feel more comfortable with a proven system. Others fall in love with a particular brand and want to become part of a team. The franchisor helps the franchisee start his or her business by providing assistance with site selection, lease negotiations, ordering inventory, developing a marketing plan, and offering classroom and on-site training. For this, the franchisee pays an initial franchise fee and monthly royalty fees for on-going support. The projected start-up costs and other requirements for a Learning Express franchise are described in the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Documents).

Long hours and fear of failure keep many from pursuing business ownership. Success in business does require dedication, but the fear of failure can be greatly reduced through franchising. With a franchise you benefit from the work and experience of others that have invested thousands of hours creating a successful business concept. When you start a business from scratch you can only guess at the difficulties ahead, but a franchise opportunity eliminates the common obstacles that new business owners face. A phrase often heard in franchise marketing is that you go into business "for yourself, not by yourself." It is an accurate characterization of the franchise business model. The primary benefit of franchising is risk minimization. Studies show that over 90% of business start-ups fail within three years. Franchising reduces the risk of failure substantially. Here are other reasons why people select franchising:

A franchise investment can be thoroughly researched before any significant expenditure is made.

Existing franchisees offer a wealth of information about the business so that new franchisees can try on the business before they buy, to make sure it's a good fit for them.

Established franchisors offer national or regional name/brand recognition.

A uniform system capitalizes on a proven format and offers the advantages of mass purchasing power, brand identification, and customer loyalty.

A franchisor provides management assistance, including accounting procedures, personnel and operations management. An individual without practical experience in these areas may not know how to approach these challenges. The franchisor helps a franchisee overcome this disadvantage.

One of the biggest advantages to franchising is marketing. When you own a franchise you don't have to have a marketing degree or hire an advertising agency because the franchisor has already employed experts for you.

A franchisor also provides training. The best training combines classroom or one-on-one training at the franchisor's facility and field training at the franchisee's location.

The world economy has changed and no matter how much a company appreciates their employees, they can't make any promises for the future. The only way to secure your destiny is to take control of it yourself. When you own your own business you benefit directly from your hard work. With a successful business franchise you are also creating a future for your family and your community that will be appreciated for generations. A franchising opportunity is the safest and most dependable path toward business ownership, so don't let the fear of failure keep you from realizing your dream of independence.