Everyone knows what the McDonald's logo looks like and what the "Golden Arches" represent. No matter where you go in the world, if you set foot inside a McDonald's you can order a Big Mac or Quarter Pounder and know exactly what it's going to taste like. Established brand awareness, reliability, and uniformity are part of the power of franchising.

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http://www.Franchising.com/

There's a good reason the United States is called the Land of Opportunity. The spirit of independence is one of the cornerstones in the nation's founding. That spirit persists today in the world of business, where independent-minded entrepreneurs take the risks and reap the rewards of running their own business. There's something inspiring in the idea of doing it yourself, of making it on your own. And nowhere is this spirit of independence and potential reward more clearly available than in the world of franchising.

For More Information On Franchising Visit:

http://www.Franchising.com/

Franchising really began to blossom in the post-war 1950s and 1960s. Franchisors of convenience goods and services seemed to be popping up on every corner. McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, laundry services, dry cleaners, hotels, and rental car franchises flooded the marketplace.

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

German beer makers are often cited as the originators of franchising. Dating back to 1800s Europe, many beer makers granted pubs and taverns the rights to sell and use their name. In fact, the word "franchise" is a French derivative meaning privilege or freedom.

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

Franchising provides benefits for both seller and buyer. For franchisors, the primary benefit is the ability to use other people's money to expand the brand more rapidly than they could either on their own or through investors or lenders. The initial franchise fee and ongoing royalties they collect allow franchisors to build their brand without sacrificing control to outsiders or the pressure of repaying lenders. The fees and royalties are used to fund operations at corporate headquarters, train and support franchisees, market and advertise the brand, improve the quality of goods or services, and build the brand in the marketplace.

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

Franchising is a business model that combines the best aspects of sole proprietorship and Corporate America. It can be described as a "hybrid" model that fills the gap between working for somebody else (whether a large corporation or a small business) and working for yourself.

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

David Timlin of Yakety Yak discusses the changes of technology and it's effects on the franchise industry.

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

This episode of the Inside Franchising Podcast features Tom MacMahan, Chief Operating Officer at Play N Trade. Tom discusses his experience with Activision and Starbucks and how it assisted in the launch of the Play N Trade Franchise. For more information about Play N Trade franchise visit: http://www.franchising.com/playntrade/

For More Information About Franchising Visit:

http://www.Franchising.com/

In this edition of the Inside Franchising Podcast we are joined by Steve Olson, Publisher of Franchise Update Media Group and Author of "Grow to Greatness". Steve discusses the history of franchising and the direction this exciting industry is taking today.

For More Information Visit:

http://www.franchising.com/

In this edition, our featured FRANCHISOR is Floor Coverings International--We're joined by Tom Wood--he's the president and CEO of the company. Tom's been a key member of this Franchise Company's management team since joining the organization 1985. He was appointed President and CEO in 2005, and has been tasked with transforming the company from a small "mom and pop" organization into an international powerhouse in the flooring industry.

Featured Franchise:

Floor Coverings International

http://www.franchising.com/floorcoveringsint/

News Briefs:

Chipotle Mexican Grill

http://www.chipotle.com/

The Entrepreneur's Source

http://www.theesource.com/