A franchise is a method of doing business whereby the franchisor leases or licenses the right to use a name, products, trademarks, business methods or format to a franchisee in return for a percentage of the annual sales, or a recurring payment.

The advantages of franchises are fairly self-evident, both to the franchisee and the franchisor.

The franchisee has the advantage of a turnkey operation in a business which has already been proven. The products are defined, the methods workable. Help is available in all aspects of the business, from selecting a site, to lease negotiation, to licensing requirements. Training and troubleshooting is available. The franchisee doesn't need to compete with tried and true businesses in the area; the franchisor's name is enough to garner a market share.

Since name recognition is an important part of sales volume, a recognized name will do much to have a positive cash flow, during those all important early months of operation.

The new business owner doesn't need to try to determine where to spend precious advertising dollars; the advertising is done on behalf of the entire chain or franchise operation. The new business owner doesn't need to resort to trial and error to determine which products are most effective; the market testing and product trials have already been completed by other, earlier marketers. The advantage carries over from the consumers, who may be more willing to purchase a product when they know precisely what to expect.

For the franchisor, the advantages are even more obvious. So long as the brand and formula are carefully defined and followed; the businesses under the ultimate control of the franchisor can spread rapidly, both geographically and in sales volume. A significant income can be earned without the hard work of meeting and dealing with customers face-to-face. In addition, the franchisor has a built-in and captive market for all his products with little financial commitment.

Disadvantages are also inherent in the operation of franchises. For the franchisee, the cost is significant. The price paid for training, mentoring, brand name and trademark recognition does not come cheap. Because of quality and image control, the franchisee may not be allowed to search for less expensive alternatives. The franchisee has very little control over which products are sold and how they are presented. They may be required to do signage upgrades, uniform changes, or décor modifications without input as to whether the changes are needed.

The disadvantages to the franchisor may occur when the franchisee runs the business in a way that is not up to the standards set. Much damage can be done by an incompetent or renegade franchisee before the situation is corrected.

Still, the growth of franchising as a way of business has been so wildly successful that many communities are limiting its expansion in order to protect the existence of local, non-franchise businesses.