Benefits for the Franchisee:

* You Own the Business: A franchise is a duplicate of a successful business concept.

* Ready Market: When one buys a franchise, he is buying an established concept that has a good record of accomplishment.

* Continuous Support from Franchiser: Although running his own business, the franchisee can tap the services of the parent company anytime he needs assistance.

* Training: The franchisee is given the necessary training to start his business and eventually run it smoothly.

* Lower Capital Requirement: Compared to a non-franchise business, less capital is needed in a franchised business since the experience and tested system of operations of the parent company would already have eliminated the unnecessary expense incurred through trial and error.

* Buying Supplies at Lower Costs: The franchisee is able to procure all necessary supplies at lower costs because the prices are negotiated by the company with the suppliers in behalf of all the franchise units.

* Extensive Promotional Campaigns: A franchise is the beneficiary of an extensive marketing campaign made possible by the sharing of the costs by the franchises.

Benefits for the Franchiser:

* Franchising is advantageous because rapid growth can be more feasible even with minimum capital expenditures. When franchisees pay the franchiser for the chance to copy a proven business strategy, franchisers receive a steady flow of cash from royalties, which can be used to expand further.

* Franchising a business can be like hitting two birds by the same stone: a franchise is being paid to expand it. Moreover, because others operate individual retail stores of the business that the franchiser originally established, direct managing responsibilities become the obligation of the franchisee. Hence, the franchiser will have more time in hands to explore ways to further develop and promote the business.

The only way to develop as quickly is through franchising. Expansion is the only way a company can realize maximum profits. In franchising, there are not many obstacles to stunt the expansion of a company, therefore, there is a big possibility of really expanding the franchise network not only in the country but also even overseas.

At present, franchising is the only business concept that can make that possible. Franchised businesses grow rapidly, sometimes having several outlets in a certain area, pushing the competition out. All these benefits for the franchiser are, in turn, advantageous to the franchisees since the franchises are largely dependent on the success and stature of the parent company.

Some studies in the U.S. indicate a very high rate of financing declines (80%) for the sole reason that the franchisee or new business owner was simply unprepared and could not demonstrate the overall financial success. Your franchise financing planning should therefore reflect the royalty rates based on your sales, your repayment of any term debt, and the potential need for working capital. If you are in a ‘ cash business ‘ as many restaurants are you have a limited need for working capital, and typically a small over draft will suit the firm quite well. However if you are selling on credit terms for any product of service you need to factor in a working capital component in your franchise business plan to reflect the carrying of receivables and inventory, we’re discussing your financing needs for the franchise, and it is worth mentioning that by now you should have reviewed the franchisors financials they have provided to ensure the franchisor is in a viable financial position.

Your franchise financing goal should be to structure a financing that properly reflects the opening and on going financial needs of the business. This typically is done with the assistance of specialize loans such as the CSBF loan program, equipment financing pertinent to your business needs, a working capital term loan, and a line of credit t and or business credit card.

Many of us face accommodation or convenience problem while planning to travel with friends or big family. To overrule such incidental issues many car rental services provide most affordable, comfortable and well furnished option with much space.

Avoid putting excess wear and tear on your personal vehicle during official business tour or leisure vacation tour, this can lower your maintenance and repair costs over time. Hire a car so that you can enjoy immense pleasure of your tour.

Having old designed or an older model car may spoil your tour. Car rentals extended trips can help you not only save money on gasoline but also provides you relaxing tour. Car rental agencies offer latest models of vehicles with modern technology and equipments so the cars give good mileage and provide all comforts to the customers.

Going on long trips is tedious, frustrating and risky. It is troublesome in case of break down in unknown places where vehicles do not pass by frequently. It will be very difficult to get your car repaired or help from someone at such places. In such critical situation, Car rental agencies never let you down as you don’t have to worry or halt for long, they will help you by just dialing their number. This can give great peace of mind during your journey especially for long trips.

Many of us don’t wish to drive our well preserved precious car into clumsy or rough roads, in high traffic with narrow space and less favourable roads. You have to take quick decision to hire a car for great escape out of the sludge without making any deep thoughts.

Sitting on driving seat do not provide any fun compare to sitting on back seat with relaxing mood, enjoying, playing games, doing funny activities, chatting with friends in car or over the phone or access the latest information on internet, read books and what else! You can utilize your traveling time and do all these things by hiring a car. You can book a car before reaching to your dream destination by taking a flight, at airport doors you will find a car waiting for you to take you wherever you want without any questions and arguments that most tourists face. You will be taken to your destination in rented car that can save the time while traveling to your vacation spot and spend valuable time in sightseeing and relaxing.

You can get detailed specification and also compare different car models before hiring a car. This details and experience will help you recommend the car for future tour or purchasing a car. In long distance journey you get chance to taste your hands on the car to discover fine distinction about the vehicle. In other words, this test ride can be very useful in new car purchase decision making.

Before you begin with your venture, it is a wise idea to hire the services of a franchise expert in order to find out if your kind of business is going to be successful in the franchise industry. You have to find out if your business can make it as a franchise model. The expert will make a feasibility study and you have to trust this expert if he finds that your business in not a solid investment. Only when the expert gives the ‘go’ signal do you proceed with your plan.

Utilizing franchise kits, Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) templates, and a franchise operations manual template is not commendable and its not going to save you anything. For instance, the FDD template consists of 12 chapters of data, touching myriads of topics & possibly even more secrets about the business operations. When you disclose it appropriately it will prevent some problems in the future that may involve going to court. Litigation costs with regards to franchising are very high nowadays. So if you are using a ready-made FDD template, expect to have future litigation expenses. It is better to draft a new FDD from scratch than just revise a template to suit your kind of business.

The same thing goes when using templates for franchise agreements. In the first place, the contract must be drafted from a skillful business perspective as well as a legal one. There should be a delicate balance between the two. You can never find a pattern that will meet both standards of business & legal measures. And what’s more is, these agreements have to be cross referenced with the disclosed topics in the FDD, revising the draft would be a real challenge and would therefore cost more.

You can use other manuals as a reference guide for composing your own activities, which would help you make things clear. But using a single manual as a template for your company would be detrimental to the business, a legal risk. The bottom line is using templates might save the company a lot of money but in the long run you will end up spending more than the initial cost because of legal disputes.

1. Do not look at one brand only. Create a short list of a half dozen franchises which are of interest. Where a franchise might be successful in one area it might not be successful in another so jumping in head first is never a good idea. With a short list of available franchises to buy that are of interest you can then begin your research.

2. With your short list in hand you are probably going to have some well known brands and some lesser known brands. Generally you will be able to see the difference immediately in that the lesser known brands do not cost so much so you need to weigh up the benefits of the brand name crossed with the custom it will generate and compare it with the smaller brand whom the local area may not have heard of.

3. Density of eateries and drinks outlets in your local area. Looking at your shortlist you should then go out into the local area where you are looking to open your outlet, if you are hoping to buy a pizza franchise and there are already 4 existing then you are going to be buying into an already saturated market. Cross out any on your list that have too many outlets open near you or broaden your territory range for opening of your outlet.

4. How long have your remaining short list been in business for? The golden rule about franchising is that you are buying into an established business. Finding out from the franchisor how long they were in business before they franchised and how long they have been franchising for is a must. Do remember though that McDonalds went to franchise back in the 50′s almost immediately after opening up their first store. However, a general rule of thumb is you can trust a franchise who has been in business a long time more. There are many start-up franchises out there though and with these you can expect a much lower initial start up costs.

5. Hopefully have made a few decisions now, with your remaining franchises contact the franchisor and ask for a list of current franchisees, with this ling in hand you can start contacting them and find out how well they are doing with their franchise and if the promises made in the promotional materials are being fulfilled.

Having done the above and the rest of your due diligence you may still be left with several choices and this is where personal preference comes in. Would you prefer looking after a pizza outlet, burger outlet or coffee outlet etc? There are obvious plus points and minus points to them all depending on your own personal preferences.

Stretch-n-Grow franchises provide programs ranging from after-school sessions, parties, and camps. The classes are usually taught at locations such as community centers, grade schools, day-care facilities, YMCA and YWCA’s, and other locations dedicated to community service. They offer programs for children ages 18 months to twelve years. They are currently franchised in 12 countries and the claim to be the “world’s largest network of children’s fitness professionals”.

Stretch-n-Grow is a home based franchise. This results in lower out-of-pocket start up expenses as there is no need to rent office or commercial space. The estimated cost of starting a franchise is $23,700. This includes a franchise fee of $22,600. There is a low ongoing royalty fee of $150 per month. The parent company does not offer financing for the start up costs, but they do allow the franchisee to obtain third party financing. Specific business experience is not required but a cash liquidity of $20,000-25,000 is mandated. Absentee ownership is not allowed and the business can be run by one individual.

Specialized training is provided by the parent company, both in the field of fitness and marketing. A three-day intensive training session is held at the corporate headquarters and the cost of airfare, transportation, and hotel accommodations are included in the franchise fee. As a result of the training programs, each franchisee becomes certified in adolescents fitness. Stretch-n-Grow also provides ongoing training and support in a variety of different ways.

If you enjoy children and fitness, then you may want to investigate Stretch-n-Grow as a potential business opportunity. It is, however, important to keep in mind that a significant amount of marketing and prospecting will need to be done on a consistent basis and it is doubtful that this type of opportunity will lead to strong residual income in the future.

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.

The short sale process is the steps that have to be taken in order to have the Lender or lenders agree to forgive the debt and accept payment in full from the proceeds that can be gained from selling the home at the time of sale

First, the seller decides to short sale. Many times this decision is reached after the homeowner is in default on mortgage payments but it’s not necessary to be in default. Better yet if the seller is current. This can open the doors to short selling the home and buying a new home much sooner than actually being in default.

Once this decision has been made, you contact a trusted real estate professional, preferably well versed on short sales and the process. Many who know what they are doing will have support for the seller and possibly a legal team that can help. The best can offer this at no cost to the seller.

From here the short sale starts to take shape. The property is prepared for sale. Placed on the market at its fair market value, this is very important to ensure the short sale is approved. Once offers are negotiated, they are submitted to the lender or lenders with supporting documentation showing the lender(s) it’s in their best interest to approve the sale Usually this is proven with a hardship letter written by the seller and supporting documents, if there is not enough income to support the continued payments of the property.

The time delays with the short sale process are usually due to the internal process the short sale must take once submitted for approval. The lender will verify value of the home by doing BPO’s and possibly full appraisals, depending on the lender and the position they’re in. If there are seconds or thirds, written agreements have to be secured from the other lenders, agreeing to the settlement amount being offered, if any, by the first lien holder.

The process usually takes from 45 to 60 days depending on the number of loans and the skills of the person contacting the lender(s), though it can take as long as four months.