Becoming a franchisee is an opportunity to escape the day-to-day doldrums of the corporate life, be your own boss, and realize your dreams of owning your own business.

But it also takes hard work.

From financing to marketing to managing your employees, there’s a lot to juggle. Luckily, you’ll have the support of the company with which you franchise. You’ll also have a plethora of online resources to help meet your business needs.

Here’s a look at some of the best online resources for franchise businesses:

The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers

The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD) exists to help its members meet their goals. It has four areas of focus: marketing support, legal and financial support, legislative support, and networking.

If you are considering becoming a franchisee, you should consider joining the AAFD. As a member, you’ll have access to all the organization has to offer, including tools you can use before you’ve even bought a franchise.

The National Federation of Independent Business

For years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been an invaluable resource for people who own franchise businesses. It offers its members an array of online resources, including information about human resources, strategy, and finance.

It’s also a great place to monitor industry trends and news. The organization offers easy-to-consume information in articles, infographics, videos, and webinars. If you have a question about how to run your franchise business, chances are you’ll find answers through the National Federation of Independent Business.

Franchising.com

Sometimes you don’t know exactly what you need. For these instances, there is Franchising.com. For more than a quarter century, the organization has been connecting people who own franchise businesses with one another—and now it offers the service online.

Franchising.com offers information about trends and news from the industry. It lists all of the upcoming conferences. And it provides you with resources in 26 key areas, including cost reduction, point of sale programs, and risk management.

Franchise Times

It’s a news website. It’s a news aggregator. It’s a one-stop shop for vendor directories. And it’s perhaps the best place on the Web to look for research related to franchising. It’s Franchise Times, and you can access all the organization has to offer for free.

All you have to do to take advantage of the white papers, columns, and research is register.

FranchiseExpo.com

If you are looking to connect with vendors and industry experts or to get news about the industry, you should definitely visit FranchiseExpo.com. For more than 25 years, the organization has been producing the largest trade shows in the world for people who own franchise businesses.

Visit FranchiseExpo.com to see when it will be hosting a trade show in your area and connect with resources that can help make you a better businessperson.

The International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is one of the largest industry associations in the world. Each year, it holds a convention that thousands of vendors and franchisees attend.

The organization also offers resources that can help you find suppliers, get your hands on the latest research, and better manage your business. It’s also dedicated to helping diversify the ranks of those who own franchise businesses, so it may be of particular interest to those who are traditionally underrepresented in the industry.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Last but not least, you’ll have the support of the franchisor when you open a Fully Promoted franchise in everything from finding a location, opening your store, and ongoing support.

Running your own franchise can seem daunting. The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Use these resources to help make your business the best it can be. Click here for more information about the support you’ll receive from Fully Promoted when you open a franchise with us.

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