527: Is Franchising Right for You?

If you look at the wealthiest people in the world, they almost always get there through business ownership or real estate. The only real exceptions are athletes and entertainers—and let's be honest, that's not a realistic path for most of us. We talk about real estate a lot here and through deal flow in our investor club. But today I want to focus more on business ownership. One way in is to start a business from scratch. I've done that a few times—sometimes it worked out really well, other times it was a total disaster. That's the reality of startups. They require a certain wiring, an appetite for risk, and the ability to move forward without much of a safety net. It's harder to do when you're 52, have three kids heading to college and alimony to pay. Another option is to buy an existing business. The advantage here is that you're stepping into something that has already worked, which gives you confidence in the viability of the business. But it's not without risks. Some businesses depend heavily on key people or relationships that don't transfer, and the ones that truly run themselves tend to be very expensive and often out of reach. The third option is franchising. It's not risk-free either, but it does give you a roadmap. If you're the type who can follow a proven system, your chances of success go way up. You're not starting from scratch—you're plugging into a model that's already been tested and supported. For people who don't necessarily have the renegade startup personality but want more than just a paycheck and index funds, franchising can be a great fit. We've talked about franchises before, but this week's episode brings a fresh perspective from someone focusing on non-food franchises. I think you'll find it really interesting.