SBA Franchise Program for Buying a Franchise

Buy a Franchise

SBA Program Office SBA Programs 8(a) Business Dev.

Advocacy Banking CFO CIO Disaster Assistance Entrepreneurial Dev. Faith Based Comm. Init Financial Assistance Freedom of Information GCBD Goaling Program Government Contracting Hearings and Appeals HUBZone Inspector General International Trade Investment (SBIC) Lender Oversight Native American Affairs NAC Ombudsman Press Office SBDCs SCORE Size Standards SDB Surety Guarantees Technology (SBIR/STTR) Veterans Womens Bus.
Franchising Overview

Buying a Franchise

An important step in the small business startup process is deciding whether or not to go into business at all. Each year, thousands of potential entrepreneurs are faced with this difficult decision; because of the risk and work involved in starting a new business, many new entrepreneurs choose franchising as an alternative to starting a new, independent business from scratch.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to hurry into business, so it's important to understand your reasons for going into business, and determine if owning a business is right for you.

If you are concerned about the risk involved in a new independent business venture, then franchising may be the best business option for you. But remember that hard work, dedication, and sacrifice are essential to the success of any business venture, including franchising.

What is Franchising?

A franchise is a legal and commercial relationship between the owner of a trademark, service mark, trade name, or advertising symbol and an individual or group wishing to use that identification in a business. The franchise governs the method of conducting business between the two parties. Generally, a franchisee sells goods or services supplied by the franchiser or that meet the franchiser's quality standards.

Franchising is based on mutual trust between the franchiser and franchisee. The franchiser provides the business expertise (marketing plans, management guidance, financing assistance, site location, training, etc.) that otherwise would not be available to the franchisee. The franchisee brings the

entrepreneurial spirit and drive necessary to make the franchise a success.

There are primarily two forms of franchising:

Product/trade name franchising and
Business format franchising.
In the simplest form, a franchiser owns the right to the name or trademark and sells that right to a franchisee. This is known as product/trade name franchising. The more complex form, business format franchising, involves a broader ongoing relationship between the two parties. Business format franchises often provide a full range of services, including site selection, training, product supply, marketing plans, and even assistance in obtaining financing.

To learn more about:

The advantages and disadvantages of franchising
The franchiser's responsibilities
What is contained in a franchise packet
Understanding the franchise contract
Read:

SBA's "Is Franchising for Me?" Workbook (.pdf file)
Franchise Registry
Franchise Directories & Evaluation
For additional information

Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise

Baskin Robbins

Baskin-Robbins Opens Denver for Franchise Sales; Plans More Than 60 New Stores
America's Favorite Neighborhood Ice Cream Shop Hosts Denver Franchising Seminar on August 5, 2008
Last update: 10:45 a.m. EDT July 28, 2008
CANTON, Mass., July 28, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Baskin-Robbins, America's favorite neighborhood ice cream shop, is rapidly expanding its Colorado footprint with today's announcement that Denver is now open for franchise sales. More than 60 new stores are projected over the next several years throughout Denver and the surrounding counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson, among others.
Currently, Baskin-Robbins operates 13 locations in and around Denver and 25 stores across Colorado. The company plans to open more than 60 locations statewide in Denver and other large and small markets over the next several years. Baskin-Robbins will open more than 400 stores globally in 2008.
Baskin-Robbins' Denver launch is part of an aggressive growth strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while entering new cities throughout the country. The company is actively seeking new franchisees willing to own and operate a minimum of three stores in Denver and the surrounding counties.
"As the Baskin-Robbins brand continues to develop in Colorado, we're now looking for franchisees in Denver with strong financial backgrounds to manage multiple stores and a passion for their local communities," said James Franks, national director of franchising, Baskin-Robbins. "We are excited about new franchisees joining our team who are ready to work on their business and not just in it. Our small business, small network approach allows owners to develop a strong presence in their market and play a vibrant part in the daily lives of people who live and work in and around Denver."
Baskin-Robbins offers franchisees a variety of store concepts including free standing stores, sites within shopping centers, kiosks and other retail environments. Furthering its commitment to its franchisees, Baskin-Robbins also offers a range of support systems including: complete training, site selection assistance, design and construction, marketing, and technology assistance.
To share information about franchising opportunities in Denver, Baskin- Robbins is hosting a franchising seminar at the Denver Marriott Tech Center on August 5, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Included in the discussion will be the brand's new store design, new logo, marketing, training and site selection. To register for the event and learn more, visit the seminars and events link at www.baskinrobbins.com/FranchiseOpportunities/ .
Over six decades ago, Baskin-Robbins was founded by ice cream enthusiasts Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins who shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream store that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families. Today, more than 300 million people visit Baskin-Robbins each year to sample the more than 1,000 flavors in its ice cream library, as well as enjoy its full array of frozen treats including ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes.
"Baskin-Robbins will satisfy a growing demand in Denver for high-quality ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages," said Franks. "Over the past 62 years, Baskin-Robbins has become the brand of choice for consumers, and has consistently delighted them with our irresistible flavors and treats. We look forward to being an important part of the Denver community."
About Baskin-Robbins
Named the top ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine's 29th annual Franchise 500(R) ranking, Baskin-Robbins is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages, providing quality and value to consumers at more than 5,800 retail shops in more than 30 countries. Baskin-Robbins was founded by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,000 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats. Headquartered in Canton, Mass., Baskin-Robbins is part of the Dunkin' Brands, Inc. family of companies. For further information, visit www.baskinrobbins.com .