Text Box: INTRODUCTION  It is possible to gain financial independence for life and to become one's own boss by buying a Franchise and/or Business Opportunity. With 2009 approaching, now is the time to be thinking about plans for your future.  Starting one's own business is a top priority for many people.  With the downsizing and cutbacks of many companies, "The World of Franchising and Business Opportunities", is an option to seriously consider.  Being a pioneer in our field, we have compiled information since 1979 on most "FRANCHISE AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES".  Our publication includes listings of companies in the United States, Canada and Overseas.  However most of the companies are based in the United States. Since the beginning of Franchising , owning one's own Business has been a dream of many people.  This is more significant today, than at any other time in American history.  With the current and future business trends, there will be many cutbacks in employment at all job levels.  In order to plan for a more secure future, it is important to understand and explore the possibility of owning one's own business. To assist the prospective Franchise and Business Opportunity owner, we have listed many companies which to the best of our knowledge, have grown extensively since their entrance into the world of Franchise and Business Opportunities.  The management teams of these formidable companies have shown great interest in the growth of their respective companies and as a result has demonstrated tremendous prosperity in the industry.  There will continue to be impressive growth patterns well into the new Millennium and thereafter. When making the decision of owning a business, we urge you to discuss any offerings and ideas with legal counsel and /or an accountant.  This decision is one of the most important financial decisions one will ever make.  Evaluate it carefully. THE INDUSTRY OF OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS  If you are interested in an industry with economic growth and stability, you may want to consider a Franchise and Business Opportunity.  Anyone may choose this form of free enterprise.  This form of business venture is compatible to all people from any walk of life.  Don't be left behind. When choosing a business, one should qualify their choice.  Points to consider before a business decision is made are a proven trademark, a tested format, and a reputation of high quality.  These points are excellent measuring devices and helps to generate new and prosperous business units. Franchising itself is centuries old, but the Singer Sewing Machine Company gave franchising its modern form following the Civil War.  Early in this century two types of franchising evolved.  They were automotive dealers and soft drink bottlers.  Gasoline service stations converted to the franchising system in the 1930's.  However, the big boom took place in the 1950's.  About nine out of ten of today's largest franchisees were established during that time period.  They were in the areas of fast foods, convenience stores, hotels, motels, business aids, non-food retailing, automobile products and services.  Since that period it has expanded into almost every market and service available today. Owning your own business is a major force in the US Economy.  Franchise and/or Business Opportunities is a way of marketing a product or service and has been successfully adopted by an ever-widening variety of business and industry.  Additionally many major corporations are investing in various forms of franchising own your own business opportunities. Owning your own business has a fascination and appeal to the Entrepreneurial spirit.  It remains vibrant in our free enterprise system.  It is one of the few remaining vestiges of independent business.  It offers unequaled opportunities to potential Entrepreneurs providing them with an excellent chance of competing and prospering in a highly specialized and often contentious business environment.  Without Franchising and Business Opportunities, thousands of small business owners would not have the opportunity to own their own business.   FINANCING  There are many ways to obtain financing.  The obvious method of financing a franchise and/or business opportunity is with readily available cash.  However, most potential purchasers do not have the necessary cash available,  As a result, the next step is to prepare a balance sheet consisting of one's available total collateral.  After completing your balance sheet, review it and take note of how much cash you can raise.  If the amount available to you is less than the needed for your proposed investment, discuss the situation with the franchise and/or business opportunity company. QUESTIONS TO ASK  1.  Does the seller offer financial assistance? 2.  If so, How much? 3.  Will the seller finance a portion of it? 4.  Will the seller recommend a financial institution to you? After careful analysis of the above, contact your bank and discuss the possibility of obtaining a loan.  If a loan is not available to you, ask the banker about an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan.  It is usually in most instances quicker to discuss an SBA loan with your banker, than it is to go directly to the SBA.  Your banker can help you in the preparation and in most cases is more expedient than the SBA. WHAT IS FRANCHISING?  Franchising as we know it is both a new and old concept.  The term "Franchising" is a French derivative meaning "to be free from servitude".  Its meaning in the context of present day terms is the opportunity to own one's own business. There has been a phenomenal growth rate over the past several years.  Franchising continues to offer tremendous opportunities to individuals and companies seeking wider distribution for their products and services.  It has become highly attractive to many large corporations and conglomerates in the United States, Canada, and Overseas.  It is a means of diversification in such fields as fast food, real estate, hotels and motels. Franchise and Business Opportunities Owners are enjoying a competitive edge over many entrepreneurs due to the availability of trade names, marketing expertise, distinctive business appearance, training, products, services, and advertising support from the franchise and business opportunity companies. Franchising is a major force in the United States economy, as well as in Canada and Overseas. It is not merely another industry.  It is a proven method of marketing products and services.  It is being copied by an ever-widening variety of business and industry.  It is an entity that has appeal to the entrepreneurial spirited business person.  PURPOSE OF WEBSITE  This website was produced as a source for obtaining information on franchise, business opportunity, distributors and various own your own business offerings.  It is not our intent to go into the complexities of these various offerings.  It is the responsibility of the reader to review each business offering.  If there are questions regarding a particular offering, we recommend the reader contact direct for additional assistance. BASIC AVAILABLE AIDS  1.  Site Selection 2.  Start-up Information 3.  Development Aids 4.  Equipment and Supply Purchasing Information 5.  Training CRITICAL POINTS TO CONSIDER  1.  A complete self-evaluation - the self analysis as to the ability, motivation, financial need, health, family and "do I want to branch out on my own". 2.  One must determine if the offering is of sound financial means, with quality products and a parent company that offers the back up and support essential to the ongoing success of the business. WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS  The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) in 1979 issued federal regulations that require every franchiser to prepare an extensive disclosure document  and give a copy to every potential buyer before a purchase is made.  The same information, although not required for business offerings for other than a franchise offering, should be requested for all purchases of any type of business offerings. WHY A FRANCHISE INSTEAD OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?  A potential franchisee may have seen a hamburger restaurant near McDonald's for example, but after careful analysis, more customers are customers of McDonald's instead of the local restaurant.  The difference is McDonald's is part of a Franchise Network that is superior to most if not all local entities.  This is why if you are going to own your own business it is important to compare the advantages of all the options.  Being a part of a successful network and/or chain is why you should consider a franchise. Franchise and Business Opportunities have more success stories than any other business ventures.  It is not an accident that many franchise and business opportunities are successful.  Basically because of the know-how, home office support and a concerted effort by the individual, the success of the operation has a greater chance for success than other types of business, which do not have a proven format. With the new Millennium upon us, sales of franchising and Business Opportunities are estimated to be near a trillion dollars.  Franchising alone was responsible for over 700 billion dollars at the start of the decade of the 90's.  Since 1990 sales have grown enormously and will continue through the Millennium and for many years to follow.  There were over 53,000 franchises in 1990.  By including Business opportunities, distributors, licensors & most forms of owning your own business, the above figure of 53,000, could easily double by the year 2000.   IMPORTANT NOTES  William A. Griser, the editor, is a former executive of many U.S. Corporations.  His experience encompasses sales, marketing, franchising and top level management.  When you think of our editor, you think of a man, who as  a researcher gives meticulous attention to detail and industry trends.  This work is an example of his in-depth study of Owning One's Own Business.  It includes most facets of being in business for yourself. In addition to the franchise and business opportunity listings, we have included listings of distributor, licensor and dealer operations.  These types of businesses offer similar profit opportunities as Franchise and Business Opportunities, but function differently.  Franchisers, business opportunities, distributors, dealers, licensors and consultants are listed in this edition, among others.  They are categorized by industry, along with miscellaneous listings from A to Z.  Our publication attempts to identify companies who do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, or national origin in the terms, availability, and conditions of their sales and contracts. The companies listed are of the highest caliber, to the best of our knowledge.  However, we are not recommending any particular business venture.  Additionally, we are not promising success to any of our readers.  We do recommend you read our publication and act accordingly.  In many cases this could lead to success.

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