Starting your own business can be a daunting task; however, nearly everyone dreams of doing just that. Statistically speaking, the odds are greatly against you. The vast majority of startups fail in the first year of operation. However, there is a way that can really improve your chances of running a successful business. This can be accomplished by becoming a franchisee.

Buying a franchise is an option, it is buying into an existing business model were you will run your own business in a defined geographical area, you will receive support in the early stages when your business is starting up and you will be expected to use the methods and systems defined by the franchise. This may sound like a great option in that it does provide a tried and tested business model and does give the new franchisee support through the difficult start up phase of the business. However the purpose of this article is to highlight the disadvantages of the franchise, below are some of them:-

- buying a franchise can be very expensive, in addition there are usually ongoing annual franchise fees and a slice of your takings will have to be paid as royalty fees.

- one of the advantages of a franchise can also be one of the great drawbacks, the franchise is a tried and tested business model with everyone expected to strictly adhere to the defined methods and systems, which may not suit everyone especially the more entrepreneurial franchisees.

- the franchise is usually based on a geographical area and each one can be quite different to another, so the types of business and the demographics of a particular area may not be quite so advantageous to one franchisee as another.

- the actual franchise agreement should be considered for things like the duration of the agreement, thought must be given to what happens when the agreement ends, will the annual franchise fee go up?, could you work within the confines of the franchise for that period of time?

This list is not exhaustive, this article is not intended to stop people going down the franchise route but simply to highlight the drawbacks of the franchise model so that people may make a more balanced and informed decision.

You have probably heard the term investing in your future. Investing in your future to businesses may pertain to the amount of investments necessary to keep the business running and headed towards a profit. Investing for a business can also mean investing in the customer. Every day the business strives to please their customers. By striving to gain and keep customers companies are using a form of investment. Investing in your customer is a key to a successful business. Without care and effort customers can easily leave and find another business to fit their needs. It is one of the challenging aspects of running a business, knowing when and how to properly invest in your customers. Some of the ways a business may invest in customers may be to strive hard through advertising. Advertising aggressively is a way to try and bring in more customers for a business. Another way companies invest in customers is by aiming to have the best service available. Businesses must try hard to create a service environment for their customers. Through insuring customers feel well cared for within the company regardless of the product or service sold can go a long ways towards pleasing the customer and therefore your investments. Another key to investments in a company refers to capital versus dept. Like many individuals companies often have to borrow money in order to buy products or services to keep their business running well. Borrowing funds is a common practice for a business. The key however is insuring that the debt is kept well under the amount of capital a business has or produces. By reducing dept you are investing back into the business. Financing from banks is to be determined as short term or long term depending on the length of time need to repay the banking institution. Investing in your company is the only way your business can grow and profit. Through the investments in time, labor, customers or funds businesses are able to determine the amount of involvement and value of a company. Whether you are investing in your future is completely within the businesses control. Finding the best way to invest in the future of your business or company will insure long term success.