Are you considering a franchise of some type so you might soon own your own small business? Good plan and many like you are considering a move and perhaps achieving your American Dream through a business of your own. If this is the case let me first tell you that franchising is hard work, just like any business is. It takes commitment and time to succeed and well all businesses franchise or not mean you will be spending many extra hours working at it. I would like to help you in your education and due diligence in determining if a franchise business is right for you.

You see I have a little experience in franchising and well, I have co-authored a book that I would like to recommend to you. This book was done in conjunction with the SBDC-Small Business Development Center. I have also spoken at the SBDC National Conference on the franchising topic. I feel that they are a wealth of information as well. This book we put together is called FRANCHISING 101. Here are links to the SBDC and to information about how to order the book, but you can also find it at Barnes and Noble or Borders too or online at Amazon.com

http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/SBDC/

http://www.carwashguys.com/franchise101.shtml

All those who participated in writing this book are in the franchising industry and people who have dedicated their lives to the World of franchising. Bob Purvin is also a co-author of the book. He is the Chairman of the AAFD-American Association of Franchisees and Dealers. Here is a link to their site;

http://www.aafd.org

Another such organization is the AFA-American Association of franchisees and Dealers;

http://www.franchisee.org

Before jumping in head first to the Franchising Industry, I would like to recommend that you learn more about the animal. Learn all the good things, bad things and reality-based challenges that await you, if in fact you decide to go for it. Think on this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/