The stellar rise of the franchise... 5 top tips to narrow things down!

I just googled 'latest news about franchises'. Google returned 17,600,000 English language web pages. Wow.

On page one of Google there's a huge franchise exhibition at London Olympia. An international business directory site dedicated entirely to franchising. Franchise magazines. Franchise consultants. There's a businesses that will, for a fee, fight their way through the thick, hot jungle of franchise information to track down the ideal franchise for your budget and needs. Franchise associations. Franchise resale sites. And that's just for a start. Only about 17,599,990 web pages to go!

If you needed proof that franchising is very, very big business, googling it delivers in spades. Which is all very well. But if you're looking for a franchise that'll make you money, keep you busy, interested and happy, it's a minefield. There's just too much choice.

Here's five top tips for narrowing down the field and making your search for a franchise less of a nightmare!

1. narrow things down by picking one that already works well in your country. OK, you might have some local competition but at least you know that the business proposition is suitable for your market.


2. pick franchises you like the look of. Narrow them down by contacting them all by email, putting the ones who respond fastest at the top of your heap. If a franchisor doesn't reply or takes ages, don't even go there.


3. choose franchises that have been on the market for a number of years. New franchise opportunities are, by their very nature, still at test stage. So they're only for people who are willing to take a big financial risk


4. cash in on your existing career experience. Choose a franchise in an industry you are familiar with, in or near your comfort zone, and you'll have a substantial advantage over franchisees who are new to your area of expertise.


5. empty your mind of everything practical and rummage randomly for a bunch of franchises that will - simply - make you happy. You're much more likely to make a fortune when you're doing something you love, than trying to force yourself into something that sounds fabulous but just doesn't suit your personality.

How pro-active is your franchisor?

One of the biggest reasons people choose to buy into a franchise business is because they want the support of a rock solid organisation that does a lot of the hard marketing graft for them.

Marketing is one of the toughest elements of growing a business, so you want your franchisor to be pro-active.

That means creating new products and services, cross-selling and up-selling opportunities. Keeping an eye on your market and responding to changes. And making sure that your offer stays ahead of the competition.

TopMatch international, the professional online dating service, is well known for ongoing innovation. Their latest service offering opens up the dating market for franchisees by widening the appeal of TopMatch membership.

What's the story? Members at TopMatch can choose to have a professional personal video profile made, showcasing their attributes and assets in a unique way. "The combination of images, animation, photos, professional scriptwriter, voice over artist and production team makes it a winner" says a TopMatch spokesperson. "The best thing is, our members don't have to appear in front of the camera themselves, 'bigging themselves up'! Most people find that really embarrassing so we do it all from the information they provide for their written profile."

Franchisee reaction so far has been very positive. In a highly competitive market, it is a huge advantage to have something unique to sell. And there's more on the boil. TopMatch are constantly busy dreaming up new ideas for their franchisees. They research their market thoroughly, analyse costs versus benefits carefully and present franchisees with a regular stream of fresh special offers designed to make genuine profits.

Their advice? "If you're looking for a franchise, find a lively, proactive franchisor dedicated to growing your business. Avoid those who'll sell you a franchise then sit back and let you sink or swim!"

Here's a link to the TopMatch personal video profile page.