A franchise is an independently owned and operated retail business that is being backed by and marketed by a "parent company." This agreement allows the buyer of the new franchise unit to be a student and the parent company is kind of like a mentor.

Some of the biggest advantages to buying a franchise include...

1) The reputation of the parent company. These companies usually spend years build trust in a community. As a franchisee you buy that reputation, and the community will already be willing to trust you, which will free you up to focus on your business.

2) There is already a proven system of operations in place. The parent companies have perfected the way that the business should operate, so you will not have the burden of learning through trial and error. The large corporation has already done that for you.

3) The corporations care deeply about your success. You might be thinking, "I'm supposed to believe that these money hungry multi-billion dollars a year in sales corporations are going to care about me?" Well, yes. You would be representing them and their product. If you fail, so do they by losing a customer base that they have tried for years to get to remain loyal.

4) They have excellent support. They want you succeed so they have instituted the tools you need in order to do so. More so, they are there to help when you have a crisis. Remember, you are representing them, so they need you to do well and they will do what it takes to make sure you do.