Franchisee resource center

I had been working for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for 16 years prior to becoming a franchisee. I started out literally getting my hands dirty – and pricked, and cut – as a flower cutter in a retail location in Brooklyn. It’s the store I own now, although we’re in a new location. I worked my way up to being a district manager in New York. In 2002, [Vice President of Retail and Franchising ] Ted Marlowe approached me about buying one of the company stores they were looking to franchise. Apparently [company founder] Jim McCann had taken note of my work and my commitment to the company, and had recommended me to Ted as someone who might be a good franchise candidate.

Something that is possible with franchise ownership that may not always work with a start-up business is the ability to maintain your career while you run your business. Although many franchisees rely on their business unit as the basis of their revenue stream, there are more people interested in buying a franchise to generate a second source of income. A flexible franchise option makes this a possibility and can afford some opportunities that other franchises cannot.

You want to dip your toe into the waters of business ownership and have decided to jump into a franchise. Maybe you’ve zeroed in on which franchise is right for you or perhaps you’re still exploring the options. Whatever you decide, you’ll need a way to finance the venture, and that can be intimidating. Getting a business loan can be tricky… even as the economy begins to heal. If you’ve got money, banks and credit unions will line up to loan you even more. If you don’t have money? Well, take heart—here are some alternative funding options that can put you at the helm of your own franchise:

“My husband and I decided to open a store in the Frisco area because it is such a rapidly growing area with a lot of families,” says Tracy Schwegman, Frisco store owner. “We are both thrilled about being the 100th Kid to Kid store!”

Looking ahead to 2014, quick service food and cleaning services are perennially popular and lucrative franchise opportunities. Here are five white-hot franchises that may surprise you.

“Also, this is also one of the businesses that performs even better in a struggling economy”, Tim Bleakley explains. “When people are downsized,they are forced to look for other options. Many of these people gravitate to franchises because of the proven systems, the high success rates, and the extensive training and support programs. Plus,since we work with a higher level of clientele, those that need financing are easily able to obtain it, especially because we work directly with companies that provide business loans and companies that help our clients access their 401K funds without penalties."

With even the smallest bit of cursory research, you will quickly find that the difficulty does not lie in finding a product to offer, but rather in picking amongst the legion of products, services, ideas, and opportunities with which you are presented. Pick the right one, and you will be well on your way to financial success while at the same time gaining the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a positive impact in people's lives. However, it can seem that for every legitimate possibility, there are three times as many so-called "franchise opportunities" that are not only fraudulent, they border on the ridiculous.

Larger parties (e.g manufacturers, brands, and franchisors) typically covers the lion’s share of an ad’s cost via reimbursement or in trade. This makes local advertising affordable for your business, while simultaneously lowering out-of-pocket and inventory costs.

There are hundreds of franchise opportunities in the United States and it can be difficult to find the right one for your personal needs. While many people consider factors such as finances, franchise rules and locations, they often fail to evaluate whether a specific franchise will suit their personality. In order to manage a successful business that gives you professional satisfaction, it needs to complement your individual characteristics.