Books about franchising

How to choose a Franchise
by Iain Murray

The number of UK business franchises has more than doubled over the last eight years, to a combined annual turnover of L10 billion. Unlike the majority of business start-ups, most franchises are successful, and today some of the biggest high street names offer franchises.
The Daily Express How to Choose a Franchise is written for anyone seriously considering taking up this kind of business opportunity, and it advises you on the essential groundwork needed before acquiring a franchise. Key topics covered in this updated new edition include:

  • where to look for a great franchise
  • setting your financial targets
  • scrutinizing the franchise contract
  • how to prepare a business plan
  • case studies including Dominos pizza and Kall Kwik
  • the British Franchise Association Members and other useful contact details.

Franchising – A Practical Guide for Franchisors and Franchisees
by Ian Maitland

Book is a comprehensive guide about franchising for franchisors, franchisees and professional franchise consultants. It covers all aspects of the process, including raising finance, franchise law, the franchise agreement, keeping control of the franchise system and managing the franchise process. Book contains examples of key documents, including tables with start up costs, cash-flow prognosis, and franchising contract together with glossary of franchise terms. Book comes along with real-life case histories, some of which are successful stories and other are not.


Bond’s Franchise Guide, 2004, 14 edition

The definitive and most comprehensive franchising directory available. Over 1,000 detailed franchiser profiles resulting from an exhaustive 40-point, 3-page questionnaire. 45 distinct business categories. Also includes detailed profiles on leading franchise attorneys, consultants and service providers. The data represents the most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable information about this dynamic industry. The profiles detail:

  • Background — number of operating units, geographic distribution and detailed description of the business.
  • Capital requirements — initial cash investment and total investment, on-going royalty and advertising fees, staffing levels, space needs, etc.
  • Initial training and start-up assistance provided, as well as on-going services.
  • Franchisee evaluation criteria.
  • Specific areas of geographic expansion: U.S., Canada and International.
  • And much more…

Franchising for Dummies
by Michael Seid and Dave Thomas

Franchising for Dummies, by Michael Seid and Dave Thomas, details everything you need to know about this ever-popular route to self-employment. In typical Dummies fashion, it outlines the basics (from initial research through signing on the dotted line); development procedures (such as training employees, choosing locations, and buying goods); running the business (attracting customers, managing staff, dealing with franchisors); and moving on (considering further acquisitions, franchising your own ideas). Seid, a well-known consultant with 20 years in the field, and Thomas, the high-profile founder of and low-key spokesman for the fast-food chain Wendy’s International, make this volume especially valuable by including inside tips taken from their extensive personal experience. “Too often, franchisees make the mistake of hiring an attorney to do battle with their franchisor, rather than simply sitting down with the franchisor, discussing their concerns, and coming to a negotiated conclusion,” Seid advises at one point. “Training is non-stop, never-ending. It has to be,” Thomas suggests elsewhere. “It has to remain a priority in your business because, one, you have turnover, but two, you can always improve.” The combination provides a clear and complete primer for enlightened decision-making on virtually all aspects of franchise purchase and operation. –Howard Rothman


Franchise Bible – How To Buy A Franchise Or Franchise Your Own Business
by Erwin Keup

Are you thinking of buying a franchise or franchising your own business? This indispensable guide tells you how to do it and save time and money in the process. Franchise expert Erwin Keup shares 35 years of franchise experience to reveal what to expect and how to avoid costly mistakes.

With the Franchise Bible, you learn to:

  • Determine if owning a franchise is right for you
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of franchising
  • Understand the legal terms and documents associated with franchising
  • Navigate the offering circular and what items it should contain
  • Decide whether you should buy a franchise or start your own
  • Select the best methods for expanding your existing business
  • Determine the optimum time to franchise your business

Includes these samples of actual franchise documents:

  • Offering Circular
  • Franchise Agreements
  • Franchise Application Form
  • Site Evaluation Form
  • Operational Manual Outline

Plus, this guide is packed with checklists to help you:

  • Investigate franchisors
  • Interview existing franchises
  • Assess your suitability for running a franchise
  • Prepare the required information before purchasing a franchise

Whether you want to buy a franchise or franchise your own business, this guide is required reading.


Franchising – Pathway to Wealth Creation
by Stephen Spinelli, Jr.Robert M. Rosenberg Sue Birley

Franchising isn’t just true entrepreneurship; it offers a unique route to rapid, large-scale wealth creation. Over 1,000,000 potential entrepreneurs investigate franchising every year, but this enormous business opportunity remains hugely misunderstood. Now, a truly extraordinary authoring team delivers realistic, start-to-finish guidance for franchisees and franchisors alike.
This book brings together the insights of the entrepreneur who built the world’s largest system of Jiffy Lube franchises, the CEO who grew Dunkin’ Donuts from 300 units to over 3,000, and the franchising expert and former director of the world’s #1 bank lender to franchisees.
Drawing on their immense personal experience, the authors provide detailed analytical tools for assessing any franchise opportunity, then illuminate every aspect of the business from both franchisor and franchisee perspectives.

They cover franchise relationship models and service/product delivery systems; financial and transaction analysis; legal issues; dynamics of the franchise relationship; going international; distributorships; licensing; and even cashing out.

  • Why franchising offers immense wealth creation potential
  • Assessing the possibilities–for both franchisors and franchisees
  • Exploiting the franchising opportunity
  • Proven analytical tools and a real plan for action
  • Building and evaluating the service/product delivery system
  • The real nuts and bolts: offerings, markets, real estate, control, marketing, and more
  • Building better franchisor/franchisee relationships
  • The dynamics of the franchise relationship
  • Franchising and the law
  • What both parties need to know
  • Cashing out
  • The “harvest” strategy–from insider’s who’ve been there

Exploit franchising for maximum wealth creation!

  • The definitive insider’s guide for franchisors, franchisees, and investors
  • By experts who’ve made fortunes in franchising at Jiffy Lube and Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Demystifies franchising with detailed case studies and examples
  • Covers the entire business lifecycle, from identifying opportunities to cashing out
  • Crucial insights for building–and evaluating–product/service delivery systems

No other book brings together an author team with this much practical insider’s expertise on using franchising to generate wealth.


Franchising 101
by Ann Dugan

This new definitive guide provides clear, concise explanations for finding, buying, operating, and growing a successful franchised business from top experts from the ASBDC and the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD).
Checklists, forms, worksheets, and easy to follow strategies along with a sample franchise business plan and contract allow readers to discover how to: evaluate a franchise opportunity, develop forecasts and budgets, estimate start up costs, and get financing.


Tips & Traps When Buying a Franchise
by Tomzack Mary

Many a green franchisee is shocked to discover that the road to success in franchising is full of hidden costs, inflated revenue promises, reneged marketing support and worse. In this candid, hard-hitting book, Tomzack steers potential franchisees around the pitfalls and guides tem in making a smart lucrative purchase. Topics include: matching a franchise with personal finances and lifestyle, avoiding the five most common pitfalls, choosing a prime location, asking the right questions, etc.