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Avoiding a Bad Franchise

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Submitted By shadowpebs
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According to Dollinger (2008), a franchise is defined as “a marketing system by which the owner of a service, trademarked product, or business format grants rights to an individual for the local distribution and/or sale of the service or product. A franchise is a way for new entrepreneurs to start a business that already has name recognition. According to an Entrepreneur magazine article in 2014, the minimum investment required can range from $3000 to over $1 million, depending upon the franchise. While some of the more popular franchises have a reputation for success, others are not as appealing (Radenhausen, 2014). This article examines the warning signs to look for when deciding upon the type of franchise to open. It is imperative that one research a potential franchise opportunity thoroughly. This should involve discussing the franchise with current franchisees, reviewing disclosure and financial information, and talking with the franchisor about the support and training provided. According to Radenhausen (2014), there are six negative scenarios to be aware of when researching a franchise investment opportunity. * Bad word of mouth. The idea behind purchasing a franchise is to have instant brand recognition. If the franchise does not have a great reputation, the purchase of the franchise would be useless and a waste of money. * Conflicting FDD information. The franchise disclosure document (FDD) contains all of the pertinent information regarding a franchise. A lawyer is the best person to review this document. If the franchisor promises something that is not in the document, that should be a red flag and signal to walk away. * Excessive litigation. While doing the research on the franchise, it is imperative to review any past and present litigation involving the franchise. This could prevent future claims and losses against the

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