Looking at franchises as an option for ownership is smart. Normally, starting a franchise has no unknown bad baggage. Franchise Advantages Sure, if you own a franchise, you're not as much of a coach as you are a player on a larger team. But if you can follow a winning game plan, you can come out far ahead on the field of business ownership with a franchise. A solid, Canadian franchise offers these advantages: A Proven Track Record -- Franchises are all around you each day. You know that if they're expanding, something must be working properly. There's no guessing about their past history as you see the success with each new location. However, you still need to do your homework to ensure the franchise is a good fit for you and your region. A Successful Business Model -- An existing Canadian company may have had a business model that has worked for someone else, but will it continue to work for you? A franchise, on the other had, has developed a franchise business model that is designed to work for a franchisee -- one that works the same at each location for each franchise owner. Things like franchisee training, location selection, and local marketing are a few of the things that already built into the franchise model. Greater Buying Power -- Getting into your own stand-alone business means you're probably buying at the same prices as your competitors. Or, you may even be purchasing your raw goods at higher