The Franchise Handbook: A Complete Guide to All Aspects of Buying, Selling or Investing in a Franchise

As a Franchise Expert and Franchise Attorney with 28 years of experience in the franchise industry, I was asked by the publisher to review-edit the chapters of this book. They liked my input so much, I was then asked to write the forward. Most, but not all, of my editorial comments-revisions were included in the published version. Unfortunately, they elected not to include my comments about the misleading nature of franchise 'success' statistics and some other critical information. For additional details about buying a franchise not included in this book, feel free to visit the Franchise Foundations website at www.franchisefoundations.com Peruse the "Buying A Franchise" and "Articles II' pages. These will provide additiional information and resources to use in making an informed evaluation-investment decision. That being said, this book stands head and shoulders above anything else that's currently published for the general public. Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D., Mr. Franchise

This book is a must for anyone even remotely considering the purchase of a franchise or, for that matter, considering the franchising of their own business. The title says it all, The Franchise Handbook, and it is indeed a comprehensive and thorough handbook treating all factors that must be considered before and after buying a franchise business. The Handbook discusses approaches to the selection of a franchise; pre- and post-purchase financial issues; marketing, operating, and expanding the franchise; legal issues; and all of the factors that should be considered when contemplating the franchising of one's own business. The Handbook is a remarkable resource, and provides pretty much all that the prospective buyer of a franchise should consider before and after making the decision.

If you've ever considered owning a franchise, this book is for you. The book contains valuable information for researching and choosing the best franchise for you. The information in the book will help you consider all the important factors in a franchising business. An alphabetical listing of companies offering franchising is included in the back of the book. Each listing contains the address, contact person, phone numbers, email addresses and websites for every company listed. The legal issues surrounding franchises are covered in depth in this book. Federal laws regarding franchises are discussed in the book. State laws and the difference between registration and relationship states are also covered. A list of franchise attorneys grouped by state is located in the back of the book as a handy reference. There is also a glossary of terms related to franchising to help you learn the terminology. The financial aspects of franchises are discussed in the book as well. Each type of business entity is discussed and an easy comparison chart is included to help you easily see the differences between each type of business entity. The information on creating a business plan and getting financing is very helpful if you are new to the concept of franchise ownership. You will learn how to create a business plan, conduct a market analysis and create financial statements.

The Franchise Handbook contains a LOT, and I do mean a LOT, of information about franchise systems. Included are step-by-step guidelines regarding how to research possible franchise options including how to estimate start up costs and how to finance the franchise purchase. Of course, the information doesn't stop there; the book goes on to outline how to prepare financial statements, how to conduct a market analysis, and how to successfully choose a franchise location. All pivotal to franchise success or failure. Then, the book goes beyond that. It offers additional strategies on how to hire and manage employees, purchase and manage supplies, protect your franchise territory, and then, when everything is going just the way it should, how to expand your operations. The book is proactive toward developing successful franchise and business practices. It has an unbiased view of the facts and even lists the pros and cons of selecting a franchise model business. Chapter 18 looks briefly at legal issues that affect franchise models and Chapter 19 offers a list of companies that offer franchises and franchising resources. This book is a great starting point for building a level of independence by living the American dream and becoming your own boss at your own business. A definite must read!

We have all seen the ads - BUY A FRANCHISE NOW! However, very few of us know just what it takes to buy, sell or invest in such a thing. If you have ever wondered just what it takes to be a fast food restaurant owner, retailer, or an investor in a franchise, this may be just the book for you! The Franchise Handbook gives relevant information about investing or buying into both big name franchises and smaller, less known franchises. The book is full of great numbered and bulleted lists of everything you will need to think about before making the investment: From start-up costs all the way to supplier relationships. With the extensive table of contents, it will be easy to find exactly what you want to know, when you need to know it. An added bonus when you purchase this title is the franchise resources included in the book. With business names, addresses, phone numbers and websites you can use, researching possible companies for franchising opportunities will be a much easier process. So, if you are thinking of opening a franchise, big or small, having this title on the shelf for reference would be quite beneficial.