If you want to go into business for yourself, one of the best ways to get started is to buy a franchise, particularly if you have no experience in the business you choose. A franchise can lower the risk of starting a new business for two main reasons. First, you can learn everything you need to know to succeed before you pay out any money, and second, the business comes with a time-tested model that has been shown to work for dozens, if not hundreds, of people before you. All you have to do is operate the system as designed. During your period of investigation, you learn everything the system entails. If you don’t think you can do any part of it, this is the time to opt out. Once you buy the business, you should be comfortable with the system and have confidence you can follow it. Don’t despair if the first franchise you investigate has a system that doesn’t work for you. There are franchise systems to suit every range of talents and experience. For example, if you don’t like to cold call potential customers, you shouldn’t buy a franchise that requires that kind of sales. There are plenty of franchises in which the customer finds you. If you don’t want to hire employees, don’t start a business that will require staffing to grow. There are plenty of choices where you can work on your own. A good franchise coach can help steer you toward businesses that suit you best. The one thing you want to avoid is hitching your star to a business you think you can remake to suit your skill set. We had a client who was once the fastest growing franchise in his region who for some reason didn’t want to hire the necessary staff to cope with customer demand. As a result, he ended up strangling his business. Instead of growing, he stagnated. Another reason people sometimes don’t want to hire necessary staff is because they don’t want to spend the money or they think they can do the work themselves. Then it gets to be too late. They’re so overwhelmed by their business; they don’t have time to hire someone to help. The lesson: If you liked the business model enough to buy it, use it! That is the way to maximize your earnings.