Should You Purchase a Stand-Alone Business or a Franchise?

Of course, buying a franchise is not for everyone. As a franchise owner, you are essentially running, or managing, a business that is not totally under your control. Franchises have many established guidelines that must be followed, and your choices are limited with respect to what you sell, how you can advertise, the appearance of your location, and many other factors. Many of the terms of a franchising agreement are non-negotiable, meaning you will essentially "have it their way." If you are someone who is seeking significant control, looking to implement new strategies, and eager to make the key decisions, franchising is not for you.

In making your decision, you have to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I looking to call all of the shots?
2. Am I comfortable playing by someone else's rules?

Your answers to these two questions will help determine in which direction you should proceed.