Franchisee resource center

Deven Klein is the co-founder, COO, and General Counsel of Athena Learning Centers, a community of year-round Learning Centers where children go to improve their math and reading skills.

In addition to a trusted name, when considering options for starting your own business, keep in mind that investing in a franchise provides you with a working business model, a strong support system, and a network of entrepreneurs just like yourself that you can learn and grow from.

Franchise Help spoke with Dan Hicks, Director of Franchise Development for Cruise Planners/American Express, to get a window into what his 17 years of experience in franchise development have taught him about the Cruise Planners franchise opportunity.

The Resume Hut has earned its reputation through outstanding results and the quality of its work -- whether that work is an entry-level resume or a sophisticated CEO marketing plan.

Founded in 1992, the CruiseOne franchise is now one of the leading travel retailers in the country. As part of World Travel Holdings (WTH), CruiseOne maintains its position as a premier vacation supplier, providing millions of people access to the world’s most fascinating destinations through its 775 franchise owners. This year, Entrepreneur Magazine named CruiseOne one of its Top 50 franchises, out of over 4,000 operating franchise systems worldwide.

Bill Redfern, President and CEO of A Buyer's Choice Home Inspections, has been a realtor, broker, and property management company owner for over 20 years.

Have a professional background in Corporate America but thinking of finally jumping out to start your own business? Think a business coaching or business services franchise could be your perfect fit? Not looking to pay a crazy lease on an office and considering home-based (also known as "work-from-home") opportunities?

The Crown Crust Pizza may strike U.S. eaters as a truly strange juxtaposition of American fast food staples, but to a foreign audience, it's no less bizarre than piling ethnic entrees from different regions onto a single plate and labeling them by country, as in U.S. strip mall buffets that feature Indian food items side-by-side while those same items may only be eaten thousands of miles apart in their country of origin.

AS: The finance background is helpful but absolutely not necessary in opening the franchise. It was helpful that I knew how to read the financial statements, but it is not a skill that cannot be learned quickly. In retrospect, any experience that one has is helpful in opening and running your own business. You are faced with so many different challenges on daily basis, therefore the more experience you have with Marketing, Operations and Finance, the more tools you have to solve these problems the best possible way.