Franchise: Freedom Or Fantasy?: How To Know If A Franchise Is Right For You After Your Corporate Career

STOP!! Absolutely DO NOT purchase a franchise until you have read this book!! I'm not sure if the author reads these reviews, but I hope he does so I can extend an enormous "THANK YOU." This book is extremely well written and literally packed with amazing and invaluable information on every single page. There is ZERO fluff or filler. I absolutely identified with Rena, the fictional character in the book who bought a franchise for all the wrong reasons. I realized that I was running *from* a problem rather than *toward* a goal. Mitch helped me see that with utmost clarity. After much reflection, I realized that I don't currently have what it takes to run my own franchise. I don't have the time, the know how, the negotiation skills, and most importantly the capital. I thought that I did, but after reading Mitch's sage advice, I realize now that I was kidding myself. Just because you meet a franchisor's net worth requirements does NOT necessarily mean you have the financial wherewithal to realistically start a business. This book forced me to reevaluate my strengths, weaknesses and goals. I've done that and come up energized with a true plan that I will follow on my pathway to success and financial independence. A month ago, I would have jumped into a franchise opportunity unprepared and potentially lost my life savings. But now I feel empowered to make intelligent decisions going forward. Don't let the relatively short length of this book fool you. It is *LOADED* with information, and if you approach it with a growth mindset, you will get much more than your money's worth. Again, thank you Mitch, for helping me avoid what could have been a devastating decision and instead navigating toward my true goals with patience and wisdom. All the best from Virginia

Perfect for anyone becoming interested in a jump to the franchisee world. It gets right at the needed mindset and lifestyle of the prospective franchisee and addresses the critical issues crisply and compactly, on many if not all key fronts. Mitch uses simple exercises to make certain points and totally eliminates "book lethargia" for me. Initially it may seem short, but when you are done, you have had a "stiff drink" of franchise reality, and likely some good action items should you want to continue the pursuit!

I needed to know both sides of franchising from someone who is skeptical of franchising. Franchisors are good at selling you their business. They make everything sound so easy. The author admits that some people will push on regardless of his warnings. He is right. He didn't scare me off.

Not a bad little self-published booklet. It is full of white space (including a number of blank pages), and only comes to 115 pages if you include the author's special offer for a free evaluation regarding your readiness for entrepreneurship. It is clearly a marketing tool for the author that helps him promote his coaching business geared toward helping current or former corporate executives consider or make the transition from W-2 life to self-employed life. This booklet was better than OK in my humble opinion, and as a result I cannot give it a 3-star rating (although I would like to since it is so short). The title lead me to believe it was going to cover the ins and outs of becoming a franchisee. But the coverage included is less specific than that and applies to people who want to start a small business from scratch or buy into a franchise. The expanded coverage is another reason I wanted to see more than a mere 115 pages. The book is fairly priced for what you get. Maybe it should have been a dollar or two cheaper, but it's chump change either way. There is some good content included. And for the most part it goes hand in hand with the advice I provide my SCORE-dot-org clients whether they want their own startup or to buy into a franchise. The only problem I had with this booklet was Chapter 4 entitled: The Critical Skills You Need to Succeed. The authors says these are the skills: >>High risk tolerance >>Excellent salesmanship >>An independent temperament >>Great negotiating ability >>Getting the best from people >>Displaying the right behaviors at the right time It is my understanding that entrepreneurs don't have to take risks. In fact, good entrepreneurs are masters at minimizing risks. So I disagree that the first skill cited above is appropriate. Small business owners can hire salesmen. So I disagree that the second skill cited above is appropriate. And is an "independent temperament" critical? I think not. And is getting the best from people critical? I think not (but it is a subset of leadership skills). Arguably the last skill cited above is critical (it is a subset of leadership skills). The critical skills I tell my clients that are necessary to start and run a business are: (1) leadership skills, including good interpersonal skills, & good communication skills, (2) financial management skills, & (3) a tolerance for lack of guarantees. Don't confuse this last skill I cite as being the same thing as having a tolerance for risk. All in all, this booklet is definitely one to read if you are seriously considering a move from corporate life to self-employment. It won't answer all your questions, but it covers some good topics and makes some good points. Another book I highly recommend you take a look at is one I read and reviewed a few years back. See Smart Women and Small Business: How to Make the Leap from Corporate Careers to the Right Small Enterprise . 4 stars!

For many, the thought of owning their own franchise is so entrepreneurially tempting, they can taste it. The experience of ownership, though, can leave a taste as good as the best dark chocolate or as bitter as chewed aspirin. Often, the deciding factor goes beyond the current economy to the clear-headedness with which one makes the decision to tie the knot with a franchisor. I know of what I speak because when I was a child, my father bought a "make-your-own sundae" franchise, a novel idea at the time. It tasted absolutely scrumptious to my brother and me, but my father would have another story to tell about the nuts and the sprinkles. Mitch York, author of Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy--How to Know if a Franchise is Right for You After Your Corporate Career, is a successful franchisee himself. In the process of becoming so, he learned to whip up the best smoothie ever sold in Yankee Stadium, but he learned plenty more than that. Anyone contemplating, dreaming about, or ready to take the franchising plunge owes it to him/herself to dip into this informative book first. Here's what it is not: another boring business book. Here's what it is: an in-depth look at the hurdles and heartaches, surprises and opportunities, and other things you absolutely positively should know going in. If you want to know the ropes and make the best of a franchise opoportunity you are considering, this book is a must-read. The author has been there and done that successfully, which puts him in a good position to share insight and knowledge he learned hands-on so you can learn it beforehand. He also has spent years helping people make the transition from employee to owner, so he knows first-hand the good, the bad and the ugly that franchising can impose on owners and their families. Open Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy, and you are in for some sound advice presented by someone who truly knows not only what he's talking about but also how to write about it. If you or someone you know or love is considering a franchise, read this book or give it as a gift!

You will either buy a franchise or you won't. This book will help you understand why. We think of a W-2 job as our only financially secure option. Facing recent job losses, corporate executives are beginning to understand the temporary nature of a permanent job and are turning to franchise ownership. Employees at all levels of the organization are wondering about it. Few understand what's needed to succeed. "Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy" talks to the realities of ownership and the skills and fortitude needed to achieve success. Mitch York understands this process. Mitch is a highly successful entrepreneur who fulfilled a personal dream as a franchise owner. His other passion is in coaching executives during their transition from corporate to entrepreneurial life and focusing them on personal strengths, goals, energies and financial skills. He helps build successful franchise owners. In "Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy" you find the roadmap for a successful journey. It will help you determine if a franchise is in your future and vastly improve your opportunity for success.

As someone who is strongly anti-franchise, it was difficult for me to pick up this book. But, when I heard that Mitchell York was the author, it became very easy to pickup and finish! After reading this book, my anti-franchise sentiments had not wavered. However, I can say that a clear, complete, and fair assessment of the pros & cons of purchasing a franchise was presented. Anyone considering the purchase of a franchise will be well-equipped to make their decision after reading this book. Michael T. Hanley, CPA is the Managing Partner of the Smithtown, NY CPA Firm, Merl & Hanley, LLP and the author of Effective Tax Planning for the MicroBusiness

This is a fabulous read! Mitch York writes with a style that is at once, engaging, fun, and informative. He obviously understands the labyrinthian world of franchising, but more importantly, he has wonderful insight regarding what it takes to be successful. For those individuals exiting the corporate suite, who may be considering a franchise opportunity, his coaching is very direct and hard-hitting. This book can save you a ton of money and heartache.