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Smallbusines.co.uk has teamed up with Robina Every, managing director at Card Connection, which specialised in the franchised distribution of greeting cards, to provide five east steps to make a franchise work.

A guide to franchise agreements

If you have decided to go down the franchise route, you need to be sure that the contract you are signing suits your plans and doesn’t tie you in to anything unexpected. To ensure that this is the case, the franchise agreement or contract is all-important. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers a list of things to look out for in the agreement.

How to choose a franchise

A good franchise scheme is not just about having a good idea, it’s about the franchisor’s ability to prove the idea, have the available resources, both human and financial, and build the infrastructure to ensure the brand can be replicated by franchisees. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers some practical advice on starting a franchise.

Don't Miss

Rising Star: Matt Bingham

After being made redundant, a chance encounter with an old friend led Matt Bingham to shift focus and set-up training company Red Cloud Photography Days – which has developed into a success.

Rising star: Jo Young

It’s brave to start a business, but even braver to ditch it in favour of something else. Jo Young did just that and has turned her sofa throw company, Urban Sprawl, into a spreading success.

Millionaire donates entire fortune

Brian Burnie has spent £16 million restoring Doxford Hall in Northumberland to its former glory. But when the project is complete this month, the entrepreneur will sell the estate and give the entire proceeds to a cancer charity.

Start A Business News

Downing Street welcomes entrepreneurs

The prime minister and business secretary have recognised the achievements of the UK's most innovative entrepreneurs at a Downing Street reception.

Downing Street welcomes entrepreneurs

The prime minister and business secretary have recognised the achievements of the UK's most innovative entrepreneurs at a Downing Street reception.

Small business centre unveiled in Northern Ireland

A new £1 million centre to support the establishment and growth of small companies has been opened in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Sir Alan Sugar named as enterprise tsar

Sir Alan Sugar has been appointed as the UK's enterprise champion by prime minister Gordon Brown.

‘MPs greedier than bankers’

Small businesses are more outraged by the greed of MPs than bankers.

NESTA: High-tech start-ups key to recession survival

The government needs to focus on supporting new firms in next-generation industries in the economic downturn, says an innovation group.

Start-ups receive support in Gateshead

Gateshead Council has unveiled a £1 million drive to support start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

A perfect time for start-ups

Nearly half of UK professionals say they would use redundancy pay-offs to go it alone, according to a poll.

SMEs put retirement plans on hold

The recession is causing owner-managers to delay retirement plans.

Small business awards

Whatever sector you’re in, if your business is proving to be a storming success in these troubled times, recognition and a cash prize could be at hand.

Start-up rate stays strong

The rate of new business start-ups increased in 2008 as more people who are being made redundant look to begin new ventures.

Events Calendar

City University & Knowledge Connect: Free money from the LDA for your business

29th June, City University, Ground Floor, Room AG07

Business Startup

28th November, Olympia, London

Protecting Your Business

6th September, Best Western Country Hotel, Caerphilly

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Hiscox Business Insurance

With our knowledge of specific sectors, get professional indemnity, office or liability insurance from Hiscox suited to the requirements of your industry. Get a quote and buy online in minutes.

Win a top-of-the-range HP Officejet Pro 8500 Wireless All-in-One printer!

To celebrate the launch of its new HP Officejet Pro printer range - designed specifically to help small businesses get professional results - HP is giving away an HP Officejet Pro 8500 All-in-One, worth £299. To enter click here

Compare free Quick Quotes from leading website designers

We have sourced leading website designers so you can find the website design services you need. Its free, quick and easy to use. Up to 3 web designers will contact you. Find a website designer now.

Buying a franchise Resource Centre

Get the latest franchise news

Franchise World is a premier franchise news magazine that includes news, features and listings.

Find a franchise

Franchise direct is a portal for franchise and business opportunities that lists franchises from an exstensive range of industry sectors.

British Franchise Association - Find a franchise

Here is a good place to begin your search for a franchise, it contains guidelines for choosing a franchise, a list of bfa membership categories and its members.

Franchise informaton, advice and opportunities

Whichfranchise.com contains free franchise information, advice and opportunities, and is the only website in the UK to be affiliated to the British Franchise Association (BFA).

Advice on buying a franchise

Start In Business give free adive on buying a franchise or business package.

Buy a franchise opportunity

Franchise Sales allows you to find your ideal franchise opportunity.

Franchise information

Specialist franchise consultants that offer franchise opportunity information, help and advice on everything relating to business franchising and licensing.

The UK franchise directory

The online version of the UK franchise directory contains information about more than 800 franchisors.

More Buying a franchise Resources

Other Start A Business Resources

Polls

Video

BT Tradespace

Hear more about BT Tradespace, an online platform for small businesses provided by BT.

Easy and effective email marketing

Parker Trewin, Director of Marketing and Communications at Genius.com, demonstrates how Genius Pro can help you manage your email marketing campaigns more effectively.

Marketing an SME online

No matter what kind of business you are in, an online presence has become a vital tool for promoting your company and selling your products and services.

Competitive advantages from home working

Research shows that 69% of UK employees would like to work from home, with a further 20% saying they would take a pay cut for this type of flexibility.

Blogs

Will Alan Sugar sweeten business prospects?

Marc Barber 10/06/2009

While any help singled out for small businesses should be welcomed, the appointment of Sir Alan Sugar as ‘Enterprise Tsar’ smacks of gimmicky desperation. Have your say »

Credit crunch: What does it mean for you?

Penny Proffit 25/01/2008

In the current global economic climate, small business owners are likely to be concerned about the consequences of the credit crunch. Penny Proffit has teamed up with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants to bring you ten quick tips for survival. Have your say »

Quality content is the foundation of Search Engine Marketing

Guest Blogger 21/07/2008

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is in essence the theory and practice of getting a website onto the first page of 'natural' (sometimes called 'organic') search results on the important search engines for important keywords. Have your say »

Q&A

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Tax and finance expert

Adrian Mole, Mazars

Business development expert

Ashley de Safrin, Business Link in London

Franchise information

Julie Waites, The Franchise Company

177 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Employment contract Q: Sole trader Q: Patenting an invention Q: Business name Q: Business angels Q: Choosing a legal structure Q: Advice on starting up

Prize Draw

Enter our Small Business competition and win a laptop!

Are you an entrepreneurial legend in your local community? Has your business savvy seen you blossom during the boom times and bootstrap during the bad? If the answer is "yes", then you'll be intrigued to hear that Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Insurantz.com to discover 30 of the UK's best run small businesses. Click here to enter

Flexible health cover for your business

Every year sickness absence costs the UK economy around £13 billion. Want to know how much sickness absence could be damaging the health of your business? Click here to find out and receive a personalised quote.

The UK Franchise Directory - now online

Have you considered buying a franchise? Consider this: 90% of franchisees are still trading profitably after 5 years, whereas 20% of startups fail within 12 months. Franchises can provide you with the training, systems and support you need to succeed. To find out more visit theukfranchisedirectory.net