Friday, May 31st

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

If you are considering starting a business, do you know whether there is a franchise that that performs a similar function or would otherwise meet your needs, and if so, would you like counseling in this area?

“Finding your path in business ownership: open a franchise or start from scratch?”

  Heather Rosen, President of FranNet of Virginia, will be presenting a workshop focused on how to maximize your returns and minimize risk when starting a business in the current economy. The course will cover various ways of starting a business and will then go into more details about the often misunderstood franchise model. Come and learn which types of B2b service, consumer service, retail, auto or food franchises have been successful in this or similar markets, and how to safely and efficiently figure out whether one of the 3,000+ franchise businesses is right for you.  Everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, goals and risk tolerance levels so there is no one-size-fits-all franchise for each individual and every market. This workshop will address the following topics:

•        How to determine if franchise ownership is right for you

•        How to quantify and maximize your financial returns in a franchise business

•        How to correctly select and research franchise opportunities that will thrive in the current economy

•        How to recognize and avoid the pitfalls that can lead to failure in franchise ownership

•        Absentee ownership opportunities, master franchise and multi-unit opportunities in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC

•        How much will it cost and various financing options available

•        Franchise requirements that are unique to Virginia

•        How your local Small Business Development Center office can help

Where – University of Mary Washington Small Business Development Center

                  1125 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 400

                 Fredericksburg, VA 22401