Many people wish to work for themselves and owning your own business is a career choice, which should be considered if you are a motivated self-starter. Considering a franchise is also a good choice if you have never run a business before and leaving Corporate America for self-employment and making this part of your dream.

In Franchising much is based on your ability and business acumen, if you run your business properly, good customer service you win, if you chase customers away and a lets say you own a Coffee Franchise and a competing company, Starbucks moves in nearby you have to work twice as hard, that is called competition.

There are also other risks and also realize that location is a consideration, Anchor Stores, traffic flows, weather, demographic changes, 10-year sub-master leases, etc. Are franchises an unsafe option? Should you forget a franchise of your own? Well, no, because in potential business failures there are too many factors to blame and focusing on the business model is not sensible.

You see, business is a risk, so is buying a franchise really, that is part of the definition of a franchise; YOU the franchisee has the risk. You are basically leasing a business, risking your capital. Once you agree to this, it is YOU who must sink or swim, work hard to make it work? Please consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Currently Lance is retired at age 40 and is running an Online Think Tank Forum while traveling North America. Perhaps considering something extremely challenging to do that will exercise his mind and utilize all his experiences, observations and skills. Any ideas?