- Market Directly to the Consumer
- Party Plan
- Direct Mail
- Telemarketing
- Multilevel Marketing
- Television Infomercials
- Pay-Per-Call
- Internet
- Market Through the Government
- Market Through Distribution Channels
- Market Through Foreign Trade
- Market Through Specialty Channels
- Market Through Email
- Retail Stores
- Sales Promotion
- Media Outlets
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Start-Up Costs
- Operating Costs
- 20 Financing Approaches
- Choosing a Bank
- 4 Cs of Credit
- Underwriting
- Loans
- Equity Financing
- Extending Credit
- Equipment Leasing
- Venture Capital
- Angel Investors
- Personal Guarantees
- Bookkeeping and Financial Statements
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Tax Basics
- Income Taxes
- When To Pay
- Minimizing Taxes
- Home Business
- Travel and Entertainment Expenses
- Automobile Expense and Mileage
- Retirement Plans
- Medical Expenses
- Sales and Use Taxes
- Property Taxes
- W-4 and I-9
- W-2, W-3 and Form 1096
- FICA, Social Security and Medicare
- Unemployment Taxes
- Form 1099
- Payroll
- Business Tax
- Excise Tax
- Tax Tips
- Audits
- Business Insurance Agents
- Workers’ Compensation
- Property Insurance
- General Liability
- General Medical
- COBRA
- Directors and Officers
- Employment Practices Liability
- Errors and Omissions
- Product Liability
- Operations
- Business Interruption
- Disability
- Life
- Claims
- IRS Section 125
- Home-Based Business
- Entrepreneur Profile
- Nondisclosure Agreement
- Sale of Goods Agreement
- Sale of Specialty Goods Agreement
- Terms and Conditions
- Promissory Note
- Guarantee
- Corporation Articles of Incorporation
- Corporation Bylaws
- Bank Resolution
- IRC Section 83 Election
- Independent Contractor Agreement
- Employment Agreement
- Sexual Harassment Policy
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Stephanie Chandler
Author of The Business Startup Checklist & Planning Guide |
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ORDER NOW: The Business Startup Checklist & Planning Guide |
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Tom Severance
Author of Business Start-Up Guide |
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Joe Kennedy
Author of The Small Business Owner's Manual |
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ORDER NOW: The Small Business Owner's Manual |
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Steven D. Strauss
Author of The Small Business Bible |
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At your earliest opportunity, obtain a copy of the franchise Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The franchisor must deliver this disclosure document to you at the first personal contact. However, try to obtain it sooner. It will give you a wealth of information in a consistent and organized format.
The franchisor must fully disclose information in the following twenty categories:
- Identifying information as to franchisor
- Business experience of franchisor’s directors and executive officers
- Business experience of the franchisor
- Litigation history
- Bankruptcy history
- Description of the franchise
- Initial funds required from the franchisee
- Recurring funds required from the franchisee
- Affiliated persons with whom the franchisor requires or advises the franchisee to do business
- Obligations to purchase
- Revenues received by the franchisor in consideration of the purchase
- Financing arrangements
- Restriction of sales
- Personal participation required of the franchisee in the operation of the franchise
- Termination, cancellation, and renewal of the franchise
- Statistical information concerning the number of franchises and company-owned outlets
- Site selection
- Training programs
- Public figure involvement in the franchise
- Financial information concerning the franchisor
Review the UFOC carefully and highlight the areas where you want more information. Visit and talk with current and former franchisees. Even if you don’t purchase the franchise, you will obtain valuable information about the industry, what works, and what doesn’t work. This knowledge will dramatically increase your own chances for success.
Excerpted from Business Start-Up Guide © 2002, Tycoon Publishing