The franchising industry has grown at an astounding rate. It's hard to get through the day without dealing with a franchise. We buy our homes through franchised real estate companies and maintain and repair them using franchised companies in areas as varied as carpet and chimney cleaning to plumbing and renovations.

We drive to work in a car purchased from a franchised dealer and repair it at franchised repair shops. We buy our tires, mufflers and accessories at franchised stores.

A trip to the mall, usually involves dealings with franchised stores and your lunch break, you guessed it, another franchise.

People are comfortable doing business with franchises for many different reasons, but you can sum it up by saying, the public has a feeling of confidence in the predictable service and quality of a national company and, at the same time, receives the concerned personal attention of a local business entrepreneur. This is an attractive and compelling combination.

Most franchise buyers are between the ages of 35 to 55, the fastest growing and best- educated segment of the population. Recent and ongoing corporate downsizing is creating an unprecedented highly qualified pool of franchise prospects with business experience and financial stability. Experts are predicting franchise growth extending well into the future. Technical internet and home based franchises are already booming and service industry franchises continue to perform well.

In one recent month, we were working on one service related and two internet related franchises all of which are home based and all three are reporting start-up results above expectations.

If you are starting a Canadian franchise, and intend to expand into the US, you should consider structuring your franchise for easy transition into the US market, taking into consideration the legal differences. This could save you considerable money and time by avoiding dual sets of contracts and addressing some potential legal complications before they arise.

Contact us from the US, Canada or overseas if you are considering franchising and the US market is in your plans.