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Critical Choices - Franchise Vs Starting Your Own Business
By Scott Kavanagh | On February 8, 2010 | In Business | 35 Viewings | Rated
Franchise Vs your own business is one of the biggest and most important questions facing anyone considering starting a new business. There are quite a large number of options these days when you want to start your own business. Many people opt for franchise operations, whereas others like to start their own company. These are difficult choices that will affect your lifestyle and income; you will have to live with your choice for years to come, so take the time to research and choose wisely. There is another choice that may be better for you; called a business system, we will cover this in more depth below. The following article will help you decide which path to take in your new journey down the path of entrepreneurship.

Before choosing a business to invest your time and money in, it’s important to understand the difference between a franchise business, starting your own business or using a business system.

What is a Franchise?

A franchise is where you sell products or services under the brand of a big corporation by paying an up-front fee, and often a percentage of your sales. These products and services can be retail such as; fast food restaurants, repair shops etc, or service industries such as landscaping companies, painters, home improvement contractors, alarm installation and so on. Franchises come with a very long legal contract that usually restricts you to a geographic territory and in some cases, you are required to purchase all your products and even supplies through the franchise head office. You have no choice but to pay what the head office charges, and head office also may dictate what you can charge for your products and services. For your purchase price and franchise fees, you get the opportunity to become an independent operator backed by a big company with an established brand.

Starting Your Own Business

Starting your own business takes a lot of good research, previous business experience, considerable knowledge and confidence. Fail in any one of these areas and your business is doomed to fail. This method is for trail blazers and risk takers who are not afraid to fail. Ask any entrepreneur who is experienced where they learned their best lessons, and they will almost always say it was from previous business failures.

What is a Business System?

Business systems typically include all the required equipment, training, documents, forms and systems required to start and operate your own business. Good business systems are based on a successful, tried and tested model, designed by industry experts to work right out of the box. In a sense; it is a business in a box. In many cases you need no previous experience in the industry, and are taught all you need to know as a part of the purchase price. A good system will also come with support and help not only before the purchase, but long after as well.

Franchise Vs Business System

One of the doctrines of a franchise business is that all franchises are need to be consistent, so the public knows what to expect no matter whether they are in Vancouver, British Columbia, Boston, Massachusetts, or anywhere in Europe. The problem with this is that not everyone thinks the same and not all markets are equal.

In a franchise system every franchise location must reinforce the brand name and build up the business in a similar pattern. Even if they are located in different countries, they try to maintain the same quality, price and other aspects of a product in a franchise business.

One of the most important things about a franchise business is that you have to pay a certain percentage of your monthly gross revenue to the parent company, as well as participate in promotions and contribute towards advertising costs. Many franchise owners report a constant pressure to maintain the standards and follow franchise rules even if it is not well suited to their location or client base.

Starting your own business using a quality business system and training is way more flexible with no restrictions on what and where you can sell your products and services. Good business systems include all the training, equipment, and knowledge required to start your own small business. Starting your own business means you are under no obligation to promote somebody else’s brand. You are in complete control of your business, with the ability to seek out the best prices from suppliers and set your own sale prices, and generally do business where and how you please. Instead of growing someone else’s brand, you can build your own brand and promote your own company. Do a good job of it and you could even sell your own franchises in the future. The best part about starting a business using a proven system is you get to keep every cent of profit you make, and aren’t cutting a monthly check to head office for a percentage of your sales

You have more options as an independent business owner, when you compare franchise vs. your own business. First is the freedom to do what you want, to choose your own suppliers, products, pricing, discounts, promotional strategies etc. Owning your own business is more flexible than most franchise businesses, allowing you to change with the times and your desires.

Starting your own business often requires less startup capital than you would pay for a franchise. The best part is that all the profit generated by the business is yours and you don’t have to pay anything to anybody as franchise fees. You are free to choose your company name and how your brand will be portrayed and even open branch offices and or sell your own franchises.

One of the most important things to remember is that in your own business, “YOU do what YOU want”. If you want to make changes in your product line or services, you are free to do so. If you want to take the day off and go golfing, or close for a month and go on vacation, there is no contract that says you must be open certain hours or have a stupid looking clown for a company mascot. In a franchise business there are strict guidelines concerning virtually all aspects of your operation that you must follow or suffer the legal wrath of the Corporation

Starting your own business using a tried and tested business system still requires work and dedication, but you will feel better knowing you are building something for yourself rather than for some giant corporation who doesn’t even know your name, or what city you operate in. A good business system will also teach you marketing strategies, sales techniques and industry secrets that only someone with years of experience could know. Minimizing the learning curve and time required to start generating maximum profits.

In conclusion if you like to feel a certain degree of control over your business, if you want to take it beyond a single territory and want to keep all the profits for yourself, a good business system is definitely the right choice. If you want to buy yourself a job where head office dictates your business and everything about it, then maybe a franchise is right for you

About The Author:
Curbmaker Business Systems freedom package includes everything you need to http://www.curbmaker.com/ start a successful concrete curbing business and earn $1000 a day. Business training and http://www.curbmaker.com/curb-machines-concrete-curbing-equipment-machines-canada-usa.htm#Concrete_Curbing_Equipment_Included curbing equipment included. Start your own business



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