Ten Great Franchise Web Sites

Franchise Web sites have become an essential tool for prospective franchisees seeking information on opportunities and wanting to learn more about franchising. The following Web sites offer a variety of information for the smart franchise investor:

1. AllBusiness.com’s Franchise Center contains a comprehensive directory of franchise opportunities, as well as the AllBusiness Franchise AllStars, a ranking of the top 300 franchise companies. The interactive database lets you search by a variety of factors to find the right franchise for you. You can also access Top 10 Lists that spotlight the best franchises in a variety of industries. In addition, there are hundreds of articles about franchising, videos and podcasts, a franchise blog, and a free email newsletter.
   
2. Franchise.org, the Web site of the International Franchise Association, contains valuable information for the beginning franchisee and seasoned franchise consultant. Visitors can tap into a variety of helpful resources, such as Franchise Basics, FTC Guide to Buying a Franchise, and Franchise for Veterans.
   
3. VetFran is a franchise portal, operated by the IFA, that lists franchise systems that offer special discounts to honorably discharged U.S. military veterans. Click on the participating systems’ logos, and you’ll be directed to their sites.
   
4. The SBA's Franchise Registry lists franchise companies whose franchisees enjoy a streamlined review process when applying for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Loan applications for these franchises can be reviewed and processed more quickly because the SBA has already reviewed these companies’ franchise agreements.
   
5. At the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) site’s Business Information tab, you’ll find a Franchise and Business Opportunities section with a variety of information, including guides to buying a franchise or business opportunity, an explanation of the FTC’s Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule, and assessments of specific industries such as multilevel marketing, medical billing, work-at-home opportunities and more.
   
6. The Cal-EASI Database offers online access to securities offerings and franchise offerings information for companies selling franchises in California. This means you can search companies by name, Employer Identification Number or other means and find online versions of their FDDs and related documents for free.
   
7. FranchiseGator.com's franchise directory has a Franchise Selector search engine that lets you search by industry type, area of interest, and budget. It lists franchises in 24 industries. FranchiseGator, which is a partner of AllBusiness.com, also offers a "Talk to a Consultant" service and a variety of articles.
   
8. Franchise Times.com offers franchise news and information as well as franchise opportunities. Regular columnists provide updates and insights on the world of franchising. FranchiseTimes.com also has a professional services directory for prospective franchisors and franchisees.
   
9. Frandata sells a variety of information to help prospective franchisees make decisions, including hard copy or CD versions of franchisors’ FDDs and a variety of reports and benchmarking data that let you compare one franchise system to another, including company profiles, industry reports and financial performance assessments.
   
10. BlueMauMau.org provides a wealth of information, including news, blogs, podcasts, forums, and articles. BlueMauMau contains an extensive research database and tools for both those in franchising and those looking to get into franchising.