Choosing from many franchises

Buying a franchise opportunity from a company with a track record of success is no guarantee that your particular franchise will succeed. Before making your decision, you need to research the industry you are considering and the specific companies selling franchises.

First, narrow down your shopping list by considering which industries your natural interests and skills align with. Here are some questions to ask:

• Would you prefer to be in retail, or provide a service?
• What industries naturally interest you?
• Are you more interested in selling to consumers, or creating business relationships?
• Do you enjoy working outdoors or in?
• Do you need the ability to work at home?

These types of questions help you decide what types of franchise opportunities to consider - see the table below for options. Once you pare the choices down to a few industries, you can start a more detailed investigation. Look at market trends in your local area - are those industries growing or not? Have new businesses like yours opened successfully, or are existing franchises going out of business?

Almost any industry you can name has franchise opportunities. Here are just some examples.

Retail	Service
Automotive Fast Food Health and Beauty Products Clothing and Shoes Convenience Retail Florists Furniture Jewelry Household Products Laundry and Dry Cleaning Pet Supplies Retail Foods Sports and Recreation Table Service Restaurants Wholesale/Distribution	Advertising and Promotion Bio-Environmental Services Building and Construction Business Services Children's Services Cleaning and Janitorial Computer and Internet Services Dating Services Financial Services Fitness and Weight Control Home Inspections Landscaping Home Services Travel and Lodging