Franchise businesses are some of the most visible and productive parts of the U.S. economy. Here’s a quick look at the size of this sector’s impact, by the numbers. 828,183 franchise locations in the United States 9.13 million jobs in U.S. franchise businesses 6.2 percent of the United States’ non-farm workforce is employed by a franchise business $802.2 billion value of goods and services produced by U.S. franchise businesses 147,211…

Just like starting any business, buying a franchise is a major decision—one that demands proper research first. Franchising offers many benefits to entrepreneurs, but it also has special requirements that might not be right for everyone. PROS Support system // Buying into a franchise takes a lot of the guesswork out of starting a business. The franchisor has already figured out what works and what doesn’t, from the best type of…

Are you interested in turning your business into a franchise concept – but aren’t sure where to start? Check out our listing of the most useful online resources around. SBA’s Franchising Resources // Get the basics on franchising, how it works and whether it’s the right thing for you. The International Association of Franchising // The IAF is the largest organization devoted to the franchising sector. And its website includes an array…