Buying a franchise can be a great investment for those who are looking to own their own business. Many people, especially now, are looking to be their own boss rather than working for companies who no longer have any loyalty to their employees. We've all heard the horror stories, or maybe you've experienced it, of people who put in 30 years at a company, were close to retirement and their pension, only to be laid off and receive nothing for their years of service.

Because this is happening more and more, some people are starting to learn from this and are choosing to own their own business so that they can control their own future. But owning a business is no easy task, and unfortunately, a large majority of new businesses fail within the first 3 years.

However, by buying a franchise, you get to be a business owner while significantly reducing your risk. You see, with franchise businesses, the vast majority succeed in that same 3-year time period. The reason for this is that franchise companies have developed a proven business model that can be successfully duplicated. Franchise owners are not having to figure out everything about owning a business from scratch. They can use the systems already in place and instead focus on other aspects of running the business.

Another thing to consider about buying a franchise is access to loans. Right now, small businesses are having an extremely hard time gaining access to capital. Banks are being much more stingy with their money and are giving out very few small business loans. Banks are, however, much more likely to give out loans to franchise businesses because they perceive this as a much smaller risk based on the proven track record of the franchise company.

Many economists agree that small businesses will be the ones to turn this economy around. Until they are able to start hiring again, job creation will continue to remain stagnant. Many franchises are continuing to expand, however, and will play a crucial role in jumpstarting the economy.

Buying a franchise will not be ideal for everyone, as some people want to do everything for themselves, and franchise companies want you to do things their way. But if you are the type of person who wants to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself, then buying a franchise could be just the thing for you. You will have a lot of research to do, but help buying a franchise is available to those who wish to use it.