Nigel Mayne on the resilience of the Small Business Franchise

Why a franchise?

It’s a resilient model which has survived three decades of fine tuning in the US and Canada, has gained growing acceptance in the UK and Ireland, Spain, France and Germany, Brazil, Malaysia and Australia.  It is now poised to be recognized for its advantages to both the franchisor and franchisee, in Singapore and Mexico.  The franchise as an investment has remained a strong option throughout the recession that has ravaged many of these countries.

As the advantages have become more widely known to new investors and where the recession has lingered far longer than anyone imagined, there is more competition, more potential franchisees vie for the strongest, established businesses.  This business model allows for a level of transparency which minimizes the risk of either party to the contract failing because of misrepresentation and fraud on the part of the other.

It’s no get rich quick scheme.  Any new venture needs commitment, a strong work ethic, a wise choice of best fit and a little luck!  Your most easily recognizable advantages are the strengths of a particular franchise, name recognition, the level of demand established, the operations already established,  the ongoing marketing support,  the  level of operations training provided.  You won`t be going it alone from scratch.

Many business opportunities for the small business entrepreneur do not provide the level of protection from risk of fraud that governments or the industry mandate for the franchise business through disclosure documentation.  The protection is there for both parties.

Franchise consultants can add a layer of protection for you by finding the best choice of franchise.  Advice will include that you know what you can afford and how much support you need from the franchisor.  Where you are making application for a reputable source of finance, you will be advised to avoid traps by ensuring your representations are truthful- false statements may later be seen as fraud by lenders should your business fail to generate the cash projected.

Choose your small business franchise model and minimize traps, scams and the risk of fraud

I founded MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network in 2006 with a mission of helping companies expand their franchise networks and improve their system profitability.  Its mission included improving the quality of new Franchisees coming into a system.

Advice is offered freely to franchise buyers on the web site and by MatchPoint consultants in the field and is vital to you for a better, prudent, buying decision.  The advice offered by our consultants does not make us lawyers; it is there to help you, with a high quality due diligence process.  It is an effective hedge against misrepresentation and fraud sometimes propagated by less than reputable business opportunity marketers.

MatchPoint consultants trained by Nigel Mayne know the red flags of fraud in the investment field.  It takes the very few promoters that practice business fraud to taint the dream of an individual and their family.

That`s where seeking the independent advice of an expert franchising consultant is wise and invaluable from the start of your due diligence process.