Franchise Fee - What does this pay for?

Written by Jim Otto

"What is the Franchise Fee?" This is perhaps one of the most common questions asked by a potential franchise buyer. And while this is certainly one of the considerations when researching a franchise system, it's definitely not the most important figure to look at. Why is this?

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The Easy Way to Write a Small Business Plan for a Bank Loan

Written by Jim Otto

Writing a business plan for a small business can be a daunting task -- just the sound of it makes it sound BIG! So here are some down-to-earth tips to make the process easy:

It's important to understand that when developing a plan that there are plans for internal use, those for investors, those for bankers, etc. Be sure you know who your plan is going to be for. In this article we are going to focus on the one written to obtain financing

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Career Change Advice: Buy a Business or Franchise?

Written by Jim Otto

Buying any business or franchise can be an exciting and rewarding adventure, but success won’t come overnight! You’ll likely spend a great deal of time, energy and financial resources in order to help ensure the success of your business. And in a way, because you’re making such an important investment, you’ll find yourself putting a little bit of “you” into your business too. Therefore, it’s good to take a step back before starting the whole process and ask yourself the following: Does the franchise you are considering really fit with who you are as a person?

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Salon Franchise Owner Erin Nanke and Des Moines Marketing

Written by Jim Otto

Developing a children's salon franchise into a thriving business requires a lot of time, hard work, and the use of effective marketing. Sometimes overlooked, marketing a business to your community not only can be a way to exercise creativity and have fun with your staff - but also helps generate a positive and exciting image to your audience! 

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New! 20 FREE Resources for Businesses

Written by Jim Otto

Starting your own business can be a serious and daunting task. With so many things to consider (and pay for) it's always a significant bonus to be able to find free resources that aren't just smoke and mirrors - but are truly helpful. Following is our list of 20 free resources for business that you might find beneficial as you work to grow your business. We hope they help you like they have us! (note: This post is an update to our popular "20 Free resources" post that we shared in January of 2012)

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