Latest News

espite all the beautiful pictures on Instagram, not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship can lead to a life of freedom, and benefit the people a business serves. Or, it can be a nightmare if someone isn’t cut out for entrepreneurship. It’s not a one-size-fits-all choice for everyone.

I took the opportunity to become an entrepreneur at 19 years old. No one in my life at that point was an entrepreneur, so I took the leap without any firsthand knowledge or mentors to guide me. The business grew to half-a-million dollars a year, but I ran it into the ground. I didn’t know what I was doing and wasn’t ready. I’m now 35. My second business — a lifestyle business — allowed me to clear up the debt from the first business so I was able to sell it.

Today, I have a business that allows me to write, speak all over the world, consult and coach. I love what I do because I was ready for this business. Before you make the leap into entrepreneurship, you need some certainty. Life isn’t a movie where things magically work out. You can’t be 100 percent certain of anything in life, but there are six signs important signs that you may not be ready or cut out for entrepreneurship.

1. You aren’t self-motivated.

Entrepreneurship is lonely at times but you only get out of it what you put in. The ability get things done working alone is important. You have to be self-motivated to complete tasks, especially when you don’t feel like it.

If you are the type of person who needs a boss telling you what’s next, you are not ready.

2. You haven’t established the foundation.

Before you consider leaving that steady paycheck, you should have a foundation established. This foundation includes a generous emergency fund—you never know when things won’t work out as planned. It should also include a strong financial base. Your debt shouldn’t be out of control and you should have enough currently to pay your bills comfortable. Income from entrepreneurship can be sporadic and you want to prepare the best you can.

3. You get flustered under pressure.

The stress of a business will be overwhelming at times. You have to juggle running the business while dealing with pressure from many angles. If you crumble under pressure and stress, think twice about entrepreneurship.

4. You haven’t done enough research.

Whatever business you want to start will require research. Before you take the first steps you should become an expert on what it will take to be profitable. The Internet and social media provide an opportunity to do some efficient research on building a profitable business. Take advantage.

Just because you don’t like sales doesn’t mean you can’t own a business. That’s right. Contrary to popular belief, you can be a successful entrepreneur even if your strength doesn’t happen to be cold calling and glad-handing. If you visit a McDonalds the owner probably is not trying to close you on buying a burger. And the same holds true for many other types of businesses.

Opportunities abound with businesses whose customers are drawn in by an effective marketing campaign, a great location, or strong advertising. And you don’t even have to be an expert in a particular business to get going. All you need is to connect with a good franchise operation that matches your interests and skills, and you can get all the marketing and advertising expertise to help you get going. The trick is to capitalize on your strengths and let the franchisor fill in the gaps. Some large franchise organizations rely on national advertising and marketing programs to generate business. In addition, customers often actively seek out a conveniently located operation, often without realizing it’s an independently owned franchise. Just to give you a taste, here is a small sample of franchise types that fit these categories:

• Electronics sales and repair
• Fitness and Gyms
• Sandwich shops
• Hair Salons
• Residential painting and maintenance
• Pack and Ship businesses
• Massage therapy studios
• Academic tutoring

The trick is to make a good match with a franchise that has an established record of working to develop new franchisees into successful and profitable businesses. That’s where working with a franchise coach can help you use your time most efficiently. Let a franchise coach direct you to operations that have the best time-tested systems and a solid track record. Best of all their services are free since they’re paid by the franchisor. You would then be responsible for talking to as many franchisees as possible. Use their experiences and advice to help you determine if an operation is, in fact, a good match for you. The franchise coach can also help you with pointers on the essential due diligence you will need.

About the author

Ready to make your dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true? Get your free evaluation today! Contact Dan Citrenbaum to help you create the career you’ve always wanted. As a business coach, Dan brings years of experience helping people select and buy a franchise or existing business. You can reach Dan at dcitrenbaum@gmail.com or at (484) 278-4589.

Franchising is big business that keeps getting bigger, and there’s lots of money to be made — that is if you know where to look. The trick is to hitch your wagon to the fastest, strongest horse!

That means you have to screen out less than ideal businesses to find the right one with the sure-fire system.

Most of the information you would need is available either in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which all franchisors are required by federal law to disclose to potential franchisees, or through the interviews you should do as part of your due diligence.

So whatever you do, don’t sign any contracts based on superficial knowledge. Your research should go deep and should include advice from the experts.

What Everyone Should Know About a Franchise before Signing a Contract

Litigation History

If a franchisor has been the object of numerous lawsuits from disgruntled franchisees, walk the other way. This history is easily discovered in Item 3 of the FDD. A simple Google search might dredge up more detail, but remember, just because you read it online doesn’t make it true!

Track Record

Ideally, the franchise you choose should have plenty of franchisees operating successfully for a sufficient period of time. They are the folks, after all, who will be perfecting the franchise system and helping you succeed with your business. Look at the list of outlets, Item 20, in the FDD. Where are they and when were they established?

All Upfront fees

These would include an initial franchise fee, and costs to start up the operation, marketing fees, the cost to buy any equipment you need, build out a location, hire employees, and sign a lease. You also want to factor in the cost to consult an attorney and an accountant. If the numbers appear unaffordable, you shouldn’t sign because one of the biggest causes of business failure is undercapitalization. All costs are listed in the FDD, Items 5-7.

A Franchisee’s Obligations

If you don’t agree with all the expectations for how you must operate, this business is not for you. Find this information in Item 9.

Renewal and Termination Procedures

The franchisor is also required to detail how a franchise can be terminated or ownership transferred or renewed. Know these details upfront, because there will come a time when you want to sell either to retire with your hard-earned wealth or for a tidy profit. Advice from a franchise attorney is well worth the cost.

Why franchisees have left the system

With the list of outlets in the FDD (Item 20) you also get contacts for franchisees who have left the system in the last three years. Call them and find out why. If you learn about a pattern of neglect you might want to back away. Just remember, sometimes the fault lies with the franchisee, and don’t just take one person’s word.

What current franchisees say about the franchisor

Interview current franchisees. What works for them? Are they making money? Are they happy with the business? Would they make the purchase again?

While your research may take some time, and expert advice may add some expense, the payoff is in choosing a great franchise that gives you the life and the living you always wished for and that works for you in the long run.

Ready to make your dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true?

Get your free evaluation today!

Contact Dan Citrenbaum to help you create the career you’ve always wanted. As a franchise coach, Dan brings years of experience helping people select and buy a franchise or existing business. You can reach Dan at dcitrenbaum@gmail.com or at (484) 278-4589.

© Dan Citrenbaum 2024

Tired of the 9-to-5 grind?

That has become a quaint expression in today’s economy since most people work far more than 40 hours, and some people are veritably chained to their employers seven days a week via email and text message.

No wonder so many people want to change jobs. More than half of all U.S. workers are not satisfied with their jobs, according to the most recent survey by The Conference Board. Moreover, upwards of 70 percent of them are thinking about changing jobs, according to monster.com.

A better option might be to take complete charge of your career by going into business for yourself.

A great way to lower your risk is to buy a franchise, which offers a multitude of advantages for the new business owner.

Three Key Ways a Franchise Lowers Your Risk

First and Foremost is the Financial Disclosure Document

With no other type of new business do you get as much information upfront as with a franchise, thanks to the federally mandated Financial Disclosure Document. Most new businesses begin with a vision, but their operations must be invented every step of the way. By contrast, a franchise will teach you exactly how to run the business to maximize success. They have done it many times before, and they know what works.

And you can learn just how well all this has been working by reading the FDD, in which franchisors disclose a history of the business, including when it was established and any other names under which it has operated. You can also learn if its executives have faced any litigation or ever failed in a business.

You can ascertain exactly how much money you need for your initial investment, including fees, estimated wages and costs to purchase supplies, inventory, set up an office, as well as for insurance and rent.

And since being fully capitalized is one of the keys to ensuring your business makes it for the long run, this information can make the critical difference between success and failure.

The FDD also has a list of franchisees currently in business, as well as those no longer in operation. This list becomes one of your most important resources. We recommend you call as many franchisees as possible to learn how they’re doing, and whether they are happy with the franchise company.

Second, a franchise comes with a proven system

While not all franchises are created equal, the good franchises have developed an operating system meant to create the conditions necessary for success. They have a group of franchisees continually testing new ideas and improving the system. These folks, as well as support staff, can offer lots of helpful advice along the way.

Third is the training and support to help you learn the system

When you buy a franchise, you have a whole team of support behind you. A good franchisor is invested in your success. The franchise company has a built-in incentive to help you succeed since the more money you make, the more they make, too.

Before you even make a purchase, you will have lots of phone conversations, as well as in-person meetings about the franchisor’s system, their training and support and even what type of profits you might expect.

Still, a franchise is not for everyone. If for some reason you don’t like the franchise system or you don’t plan to follow the system as laid out by the franchisor, don’t buy the franchise. If you prefer to invent your own business model with ideas hatched in your own creative imagination, a franchise is not for you.

Ready to make your dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true?

Get your free evaluation today!

Contact Dan Citrenbaum to help you create the career you’ve always wanted. As a franchise coach, Dan brings years of experience helping people select and buy a franchise or existing business. You can reach Dan at dcitrenbaum@gmail.com or at (484) 278-4589.

© Dan Citrenbaum 2024

This guest post is by Dan Citrenbaum, a Franchise Coach and Entrepreneurial Consultant who helps people achieve their dreams as small business owners.  Find Dan at www.EnterpreneurOption.com.

Going into business for yourself can seem like a daunting option, but people do it successfully every day. So how can you transition from working for a boss to being the boss? Get good advice from lots of people and learn, learn, learn!

Demystifying the process is what I do for people every day. Over the past several years, I’ve successfully counseled hundreds of people on how to get started safely. They had to learn how to choose the type of business that would work for them and how to become a successful owner. They know better than anyone what it takes to succeed. Most have selected franchises as the surest way to achieve success as an entrepreneur. Since most people enter the business with no experience as a business owner, a franchise offers years of expertise and back room support to help you get started. Over time, I’ve collected some of their best advice for people who want to follow in their footsteps. So if you want to go into business for yourself, I suggest you read on and heed their wise counsel.

8 Tips For Succeeding With A Franchise

Look before leaping

Every year I hear lots of stories about people buying franchises because they always loved that particular business or always wanted to start a bakery because they loved to bake. Then with nary an iota of research, they sign a contract. Maybe they realize the franchisor is new to the business, or doesn’t really know how to help them get going, and they start to feel like they’re drowning in debt with no earnings in sight. Plan to spend two to three months researching businesses.

Cast a wide net

Once they start their research, invariably people learn the business they thought they always wanted isn’t really the right one for them. Either because the franchisor isn’t well run or because there are no nearby territories available. The truth is you should look for businesses with an open mind because you never know who’s behind the operation until you pull back the curtain.

Consult a franchise coach

Talk to one or more to help give you a feel for the franchise environment, what should be expected and what is a no-no. Their services are generally free, and they can help you avoid wrong turns along the way.

Look for a great back office

One of the most important considerations is how well the operation is run. The best way to find this out is to have pointed conversations with executives from the franchise, as well as franchisees all around the country. In addition, you will need to read the Franchise Disclosure Document, which will provide information on everything, from the backgrounds of the executives, whether they face ongoing litigation to a complete list of upfront costs. Are you comfortable in your gut with how they run their business?

The first year is the most important for support

You need to learn from franchisees whether the franchisor’s support system is sufficient to help you learn the business, particularly at the beginning. Are they available whenever you call with questions? Is their software sufficient for managing the system? Do they help with accounting, advertising, leasing space? Know all upfront before signing any contracts.

Expect a slow start for cash flow to get going

As you learn a new business, it takes a while to get all the systems up and running. Depending on the business, it might take months – or even a year or longer to reach profitability. Plan for this by having enough capital to keep you going past the start-up phase. Sometimes cash flow starts growing quickly, but sometimes it takes awhile. Be mentally and financially prepared!

Talk to existing franchisees

Nothing is more important in your search. Talk to franchisees who have left the business, as well. Interview as many as you can, and press for as much detailed information as possible.

Know upfront what it takes to be successful

Are your skills comparable to the skills the successful owners had when they got started? Can you learn this business in short order? Is the day-to-day life of the owner of this business something you can see yourself doing and enjoying?

Be comfortable with the upfront costs

As one franchisee I know told me, “When people say why not just do it on your own so you don’t have to pay royalties, ignore those people.” You should get what you’re paying for, and good franchises provide a good value. If you select a franchise because you decide it’s a great operation, by all means, follow their advice about running the business. Or don’t do it. 

About the author

Ready to make your dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true? Get your free evaluation today! Contact Dan Citrenbaum to help you create the career you’ve always wanted. As a business coach, Dan brings years of experience helping people select and buy a franchise or existing business. You can reach Dan at dcitrenbaum@gmail.com or at (484) 278-4589.

Remember those carefree college days when you declared your major and thought that what you really wanted was a job that would make you a good living and, if all went well, you would one day earn a million dollars?

A million dollars doesn’t seem like so much money anymore with the number of billionaires proliferating about as fast as the middle class is shrinking. And you’ve realized that tying your future to someone else’s trajectory has its risks.

The fact is you’re far more likely to become a millionaire by owning your own business than any other method. But, as we all learn sooner or later, it’s not really about the money. It’s about finding fulfillment in your work, feeling appreciated for what you do and controlling your own destiny.

About two-thirds of American millionaires are self-employed, according to the authors of “The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy” by Thomas Stanley and William Danko. Three quarters of them consider themselves entrepreneurs, and most of the rest are self-employed professionals, such as doctors and accountants.

Many of these millionaires, write Stanley and Danko, got that way by focusing on the “delayed gratification” of building their business, rather than on simply getting a paycheck.

The same can be true of a creating a large, profitable business. Start slow and steady with a good idea, add hard work and realistic goals and build a flourishing business.

One way to make this happen, particularly for those who have no experience in the business they would like to get into, is to buy a franchise — which comes with all the backroom expertise, ready-made marketing and ongoing support and training. And you get to reap all the profits derived from your labor.

To fully explore your options, it’s a good idea to consult a franchise coach who can help connect you to a set of franchises that have a good track record, and you can start investigating.

In addition, you can find a whole lot of good information online, but there’s nothing like the information you can gain by working out some shoe leather. Go talk to franchisees, learn from people who are succeeding and find out what has worked for them or what mistakes they wish they hadn’t made.

In an age of consolidation and buyouts, act now to free yourself from dependence on a boss or a company that could change at any moment. There’s no point sitting on the sidelines a minute longer.

Ready to make your dream of becoming an entrepreneur come true?

Get your free evaluation today!

Contact Dan Citrenbaum to help you create the career you’ve always wanted. As a franchise coach, Dan brings years of experience helping people select and buy a franchise or existing business. You can reach Dan at dcitrenbaum@gmail.com or at (484) 278-4589.

© Dan Citrenbaum 2015

This guest post is by Dan Citrenbaum, a Franchise Coach and Entrepreneurial Consultant who helps people achieve their dreams as small business owners.  Find Dan at www.EnterpreneurOption.com.