What matters most for a business plan? When somebody asked on Quora what are the critical factors of a business plan, I came up with these three business plan critical factors: Does it achieve its business goal? Form follows function; does it achieve its business goal? Measure a business plan by its results, and nothing else. You […]
Startup
Interviewing Franchisees
Buying a franchise is a big, life-changing decision and is cause for proper research. After all, you’re not just investing your money; you’re investing your time, talent and skills. You might also be investing your blood, sweat and tears. Due Diligence Be sure to conduct what those in the franchise industry call “due diligence.” The […]
10 Clues That a New Business May Not Be Your Passion
People who get stressed managing their own lives don’t make good entrepreneurs. Small businesses require multi-tasking, work prioritization, and decision-making, with no assistants or help from specialists. That’s why Fortune 500 executives usually don’t survive as startup CEOs. First you have to learn to accept total responsibility for things that happen to your business, just […]
Franchising 101: What is an Area Developer?
As more and more franchises move toward multi-unit growth, area developer franchisees are also becoming more popular. If you’re looking for multi-unit franchise opportunities, you might consider area development. Here’s How It Works Area developers are similar to multi-unit operators except they commit to opening a greater number of units encompassing a larger territorial area […]
How to Launch a Warehouse Management Business
The success of shared office spaces in recent years has spawned similar business models in other industries, as well. There are a number of businesses today offering shared spaces for stylists, attorneys and accountants, just to name a few. One industry where shared space is extremely common is warehousing. The reason shared warehouses are so […]
Think Ahead When Raising Your Early Investments
Some businesses just can’t fit within the angel capital or friends and family model for raising funds. Sooner or later you may need to seek venture capital and accommodate the needs of the venture community in negotiating the terms of an investment. What VC’s can and cannot do First, VC’s in general cannot invest in ‘S’ […]
Tips When Looking for a Good Franchise
I’ve been asked “How to spot a good franchise” 100’s of times in my 20 years in franchising. The answer has never changed in my mind… it depends… Check the Financial Performance You can certainly determine the ‘health’ of any franchise company by reviewing the legal disclosures in its Franchise Disclosure Document or FDD. After verifying you meet […]
Franchising 101: What is a Master Franchisee?
If you’re a more skilled and seasoned business executive with big dreams, area development might be for you. Multi-unit franchisees are also considered area developers; the franchisor requires the area developer to open a certain number of units by a specific date. Not only do area developers pay less per unit than if they were […]
Buying a Franchise: 3 Benefits of Ownership
More than 30 percent of small businesses fail within the first five years of being open. This is largely due to the fact that start-up business owners have to figure out how to effectively run their business along the way. That’s why many entrepreneurs turn to franchising; it offers the potential for rapid growth at minimum costs. Often […]
Benefits of Home-Based Franchises: Rise of the Solopreneur
There’s no longer a stigma against those who work from home. In fact, 43 percent of the United States workforce works remotely, while nearly 50 percent of small businesses are home-based and generate more than $400 billion per year. Forbes says the rise of the solopreneur means increased interest in home-based franchise opportunities. Franchising is when a franchisor grants the rights to their […]
