"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of life, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it the winter of despair." (A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.)

Probably the most exhilarating and frustrating experiences of franchising is working with franchisees. The franchisee is a wonderful person. The franchisee is an individual who seeks for success and personal growth and opportunity. The franchisee is an individual, like you and I, who has the desire to succeed. The franchisee is an entrepreneur.

In a private free enterprise economic system, as our own, individuals are free to enter business opportunities as they choose. Franchisees are seeking those business opportunities which would provide them the opportunities of success and prosperity. Franchisees are generally pulled toward franchising by a number of powerful incentives. These incentives generally include independence, profit, ability to be your own boss, and a satisfying lifestyle.

Independence One of the greatest drives of franchisees is the opportunity to be independent. This is one of the greatest motivational factors of entrepreneurs and franchisees. Many individuals left other jobs so that they could go into business for themselves.

Profit In any business setting, including franchising, the reward of profit or personal gain becomes a strong incentive for the franchisee. The franchisee is looking for a financial return on their investment for both personal time (salaries) and personal savings (investments).  The franchisee expects a return that will compensate them for both the time and money invested and also reward them for the risks associated with starting their own business.

Owning Your Own Business Many individuals have always had a desire to own their own business. The franchisees often desire not only to own their own business but to also be able to pass this on to their children or loved ones. The experience of owning your own business provides you with the opportunities of seeing the success of your hard labors, as well as finding the pleasures associated with a profitable business. Great power and prestige come to many individuals who own their own business and who are able to help others in their own professional career paths.

Satisfying Lifestyle  A vision which many franchisees have is the ability to find a satisfying lifestyle. Some business people desire to be able to live as they would like to in a location of their choice. Franchisees often have the desire to be able to take off and participate in different activities. The franchisee is generally interested in enjoying what they do while making a nice living. They desire to have their own time and enjoy the roses as they take the journey of life.