Franchises are a good way entrepreneurs can work for themselves, according to Sedgefield borough council.

The Evening Gazette reports that eager would-be entrepreneurs in the North-East are being told about the positives involved in becoming part of a franchise.

Be Franchising was set up by the council to help budding business people without the confidence to 'go it alone'.

Franchise models are more common than many people expect, with firms such as Domino's Pizza, Subway and McDonald's employing franchisees.

Brian Jackson, Be Franchising representative, says that becoming part of a franchise means an entrepreneur always has support and being part of an established brand removes some of the risk of starting a business, according to the paper.

'For the right person, buying a franchise can be a great way of starting a business,' he adds.

According to the British Franchising Association, a franchise allows one person to operate under the trademark of another. The association said the franchisee also has the benefit of seeing their business grow in line with the effort they put into it.