I want to franchise my business. Am I ready? 

You are probably ready to expand when you no longer feel a need to work in your business and now want to work on your business.
But first, a few questions for you:

	Is your business profitable?
	Is your brand unique and do you have a competitive advantage?
	Is your business relatively easy to duplicate and teach?
	Have you created and refined your business systems?
	Are you ready to train franchisees to execute the systems?

What attributes do I need to be a great Franchisor?

	A strong desire to share your concept in order to develop economies of scale within the business system.
	Enjoy helping others succeed and appreciate the value of teamwork.
	Desire to concentrate on core competencies and want to grow via franchise operations AND multiple company owned and operated units.
	A vision and a desire to build a larger system for the benefit of all participants.
	The capital to properly structure, launch and cause the franchise company to reach a critical mass.

What should I be looking for in retaining a franchise management company?

It is important to realize that you will need an experienced franchise company other than a franchise lawyer to assist you in developing an enduring franchise opportunity.  It is prudent to recruit a management firm that can cost effectively create or upgrade business systems that generate results in a timely manner.  It is useful to engage a firm that can help you finance the initial franchise development and subsequent growth of your business.

Why should I work with a franchise expert? 

Running a franchise company is a totally separate venture. The management company you work with should have real time experience and multiple experiences from being a franchisor in several industries.  It is not enough to engage an individual who has worked for a franchise company.
      A startup franchisor should outsource all or specific projects to a franchise consultant with extensive experience in:

	Franchise Marketing, Selling;
	Public Relations and Publicity;
	Market Analysis and Real Estate;
	Finance, Debt and Private Equity;
	Franchise Legal and Audit Management;
	Crisis Management and Problem solving;
	Franchise Operating Procedures and Training;
	Franchisee Field Support and Operations Management;
	Strategic Franchise Planning, Management and Information Systems.