Franchises

FranchiseGator.com: Franchises and Business Opportunity Information
http://FranchiseGator.com
Publisher: Franchise Gator, LLC
Use the pull-down menus to select by industry, investment level, and location. Includes a "Request Information" option.

Franchise Opportunity Search Database
http://www.bison.com/
Publisher: BISON (Business International Sales and Opportunity Network)
Click on "Franchise Listings" to search by name or first letter. Categories are listed in the left sidebar under "Franchise Categories."

Find a Franchise.com
http://www.findafranchise.com/
Publisher: Find a Franchise.net
Scroll down for options to browse for franchises by category or alphabetically. Also features low cost and home based franchises under "Franchise Highlights.". Try “Browse by All Categories” for ideas.

Franchise Direct
http://www.franchisedirect.com
Publisher: McGarry Consulting
Pull-down menus on the left allow you to browse the Directory by the type of industry, investment amount, or by location. The site also presents "New" Franchises" and "Featured Franchises."

(These previous four franchise websites are from The Library of Congress Business Reference Services "BEOnline: Subject Listing - Franchises" (http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/beonline/subjects.php?SubjectID=39). The Library of Congress is a reliable source for websites.)

Knowing the local community

Google Local Maps
http://maps.google.com/
Search for the type of business in a specified location: "pet care eugene 97405"
Select the "Hybrid" option to get traffic patterns superimposed over a satellite image of the area in which you want to start a business might give you additional insight into traffic flow, housing density, and nearby developments. Try 1850 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, 97405.

Yahoo Directory
http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypBrowse.py?csz=Eugene,OR
Search and/or browse for franchises in Eugene. Browse by category or search for a specific business. Get a sense of the need for this franchise in our community.

Oregon Community Profiles
http://info.econ.state.or.us:591/profile.htm
Information about population, employment, economics, education facilities and infrastructure for communities throughout Oregon

.Amercian FactFinder
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
When deciding where to locate a particular business, you can check on basic demographics at this site.
From the main page, click on "Fact Sheet" and enter a zipcode. Then, click on the zipcode link to view statistics on population, age, education, income, race, home values, and home ownership.

Getting more information about your franchise

EbscoHost
http://schools.4j.lane.edu/churchill/library/
If you're not at school, you'll need a Username and Password to use EbscoHost. Check a "Lancer Library Bookmark" or ask for them in the library.

• From the Library Homepage (http://schools.4j.lane.edu/churchill/library/),
  click on EbscoHost --> Search Other Databases --> Business Searching Interface
• In the Find box, search for your franchise or search for the topic: franchise and coffee
• Check result categories: Academic Journals, Trade Publications, Magazines, SWOT Analyses, and Market Research Results.
• Click HTML or PDF for the full text of the article.
• Save, print, or e-mail results
• For more search options, select Advanced Search.

Google - Example search: "Colors on Parade" complaints

Four websites with many helpful links

BeOnline: Business Reference Services
http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/beonline/subjectlist.php
This portal of Internet resources for business is from the Library of Congress. Click on each subject for a list of links to high quality websites. Notice the links for "Business Plans: Forms."

Oregon.gov Business in Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/menu_files/business_kut.shtml
A comprehensive list of links to every type of information about doing business in Oregon. "Market Information" is especially helpful.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) National Information Clearinghouse: Franchises
http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/SBIC/franchise.htm
The SBDC presents links to franchise directories, evaluations, fraud, and a list of resources.

United States Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/
This site presents extensive information about small business that includes start-up, finance, business opportunities (with the government), and more. Click on "Local Resource" for a map of the U.S., then click on a state for comprehensive links to business information about the specific state.