Franchising and the choice of self employment

This paper reports the findings of a study of the decision to purchase a franchise within the broader context of the decision to become self-employed. The sample is taken from individuals who had indicated an interest in self-employment and franchising three years prior to the current study. In the interim, some had purchased franchises, some had opened or bought independent businesses, and some had remained employed by others. The differences among these groups are examined. Some support was found for the posited relationship between the personal benefits of self-employment and the decision repurchase a franchise or independent business. The importance attached to the financial and business benefits of franchising is positively related to the decision to purchase a franchise. Finally, there was some evidence that franchising offered greater choice of sectors. Franchisees were less likely than independent business owners to operate within sectors where they had previous experience. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.