How to Research a Franchise Online

• By AllBusiness.com
• On 8:00 am EST, Friday November 6, 2009

When it comes to franchise opportunities, there's certainly no shortage of companies to choose from, but finding the one that's right for you can be a slightly more difficult task. Fortunately, the Internet has made access to information monumentally easy. There's no shortage of rankings, reviews and articles to point you in the right direction. Look a little harder and you may even dig up information about company lawsuits and complaints from existing franchisees. Meanwhile, social media is adding a whole new dimension of interactivity as millions flock to sites like Facebook and Twitter to share news and information.

As a potential franchisee, surely you can only benefit from this 360-degree view. Or is it really beneficial? What happens if the amount of information becomes overwhelming and you begin to lose perspective on what's accurate and what's not? For help, we turned to Jeff Elgin, CEO of FranChoice Inc., a network of franchise referral consultants, and Nick Powills, CEO of No Limit Media Consulting, a franchise-focused communications firm focusing on merging traditional media methods with social media methods. Here are their tips on how to use the Internet wisely when researching a franchise:

• Begin your search with a look at the various franchise rankings and listings. A lot of research goes into those listings -- more than you could possibly compile alone -- so they're a good starting point.
  
• Always apply critical thinking when researching online. In an unregulated environment such as the Internet, you're bound to come across information that's tainted, biased and flat-out wrong, warns Elgin. Go in prepared for what he calls "the good, the bad and the ugly."
  
• Don't assume that just because something is published, it's accurate. After reading an article, Elgin advises, always take a moment to ask yourself, "Is the author trying to sell me something?" If your decision to purchase a franchise will be partly determined by articles you find online, you need to make sure that what you're reading represents both sides.
  
• Place more trust in major sites that attract a lot of traffic. "Their long-term success depends upon being reliable, so they are going to make every effort to present credible content," says Elgin. Likewise, gather information by visiting the official company Web site. "Even though they have a clear bias and are in fact trying to sell themselves, they also know that they may be held accountable by state regulators and perhaps even find themselves in a future franchisee lawsuit if the information they publish is inaccurate or misleading," Elgin explains.
  
• Don't take negative information gathered from sites like Unhappyfranchisee.com and Bluemaumau.org as gospel, advises Elgin. Instead, use this information to form the basis of questions to be asked during your own investigation. In addition, make sure that you hear out the franchisor's side of the story. Once you have collected all the information, weigh everything to determine what you believe to be the truth.
  
• Use social media to contact those already involved in the franchise you're researching. "Franchisees can directly post their interest in a brand and, similarly, potential investors or candidates can now use these engines to communicate with existing franchisees," says Powills. Use social media tools to get a glimpse into what people are saying about the company you're interested in.
  
• Make sure to use the information you find online as just one part of your research. Simply having a world of information at your fingertips doesn't mean you will automatically make a wise investment decision. Don't rely solely on online information; also talk to people, meet with company executives, and carefully examine the Franchise Disclosure Document that all franchisors are required to provide. By using all the avenues available, you'll get the fullest possible picture.

  ---

  Sara Wilson is a freelance writer who specializes in issues related to small businesses. Contact her at wilson.sara@gmail.com

Get advice on Financial Markets & Investing and find information about Personal Finance on AllBusiness.com. AllBusiness.com provides resources to help small and growing businesses start, manage, finance and expand their business. Copyright � 1999 - 2009 AllBusiness.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.