Business Franchise

Everyday I get so many e-mails that are really spam advertising. But unlike many other Internet users I decided not to use anti-spam programs and services.  I delete these letters and messages by myself but only after some very brief analysis. You know, if to group that letters according to the products they advertise you will get a sketchy picture of small business trends. Why small? It’s obvious! Big companies will never use such a doubtful way of promotion as spamming. But for many small companies it is be a good variant.
 
You can ask why I write about spam in franchise blog? Coz recently I found some changes in a list of products. Much more people started to sell different types of software and computer programs for everyday use. And most of spammers introduce themselves as representatives of this or that big software development company.
 
As I see entrepreneurs can deeply feel the advantages of buying computer franchises. They can be absolutely new in that sphere. No problem – they will get all the necessary help with training services, maintenance, marketing and even financing. At the same time software-selling franchise can be cheaper to start-up especially when programs are distributed mostly through the Internet. You don’t need to pay rent, to buy shelves and other shop equipment. It seems to be very profitable! And it can become profitable even sooner that with other types of small business opportunities.
 
Interesting fact about software or computer franchise is that entrepreneur can not only get benefits from using the trademark, name and advertising. Selling software he usually is not the end of the relations with the customer. Later he will call for upgrade of sold program or will order another one as his/her business develops and they have more business processes to serve. Today the world of information technologies changes so fast that even few customers can provide software or computer franchise owner with a stable profit.

To buy a franchise license? To start your business as a part of a large chain? No problem. You do not need to spend any time thinking about business idea. Just open business pages of your newspapers, business magazines and search the Internet. Economists predict that very soon a half of all retail shops will make money for “the Kingdom of Franchise”.

 As I think it’s not a good sign. It points to a growing problem of  slowing down in business sphere. Many new entrepreneurs don’t want to put on their “thinking-caps” and think about new products, new ideas of selling, promotion or new technologies. They are not ready to take a risk. Sometimes I even think that franchise expansion can become one of the main reasons leading to slowing down the economy in general….

Teaching economics and business administration at school and university level, I realized that many people face the problem of choosing the way of starting their business. Many of them consider franchise as the best variant. The others argue as they believe that franchise is too expensive and provides no freedom.

So, I started this blog to share my opinion and to attract the others to discuss the idea of franchise. I hope that we will get a combination of theoretical knowledge on the one hand and ideas from practice on the other. Good or bad experience of selling or buying a franchise is highly appreciated.