According to recent federal statistics, 27 million Americans will leave their full-time jobs and become self-employed between 2017 and 2020. This will bring the number of self-employed workers to 42 million out of a total of 126 million workers in the United States. That’s 33% of everyone working in the country.

What’s driving people to leave their nine-to-fives and go into business for themselves? For many, it boils down to three main reasons: flexibility, freedom, and better income. People want more control over their own work and the ability to turn smart business decisions into more income than they’d otherwise receive with a fixed salary.

Finding a franchise opportunity that’s both low-cost and profitable can be tough. But as any successful franchise owner will tell you, it’s well worth the work to identify a winning opportunity.

If you’ve spent any time looking for low-cost franchises online, you’ve likely seen many businesses that label their franchise opportunity “low-cost.” In truth, it’s easy for a franchise to call themselves low-cost. It’s not always easy for buyers to validate whether or not it’s genuinely any less expensive than other opportunities after considering the potential for a healthy return on investment.

The steps to becoming a handyman can look different depending on the way you want to get trained and transition into a business.

Some people choose to attend a trade or vocational school. Others choose the faster (and often less expensive) option of franchising with a professional services company that offers both training and a viable business opportunity.

While it’s pretty easy to find schools and vocational programs for learning a skill or trade, there are not many resources that explain how franchising with the right service company can offer all the training you need, just faster and often cheaper.

This guide offers just that: a look into a simpler path that just about anyone can take––even with zero handyman or professional service experience. Not only will you learn in-demand skills, but also the systems, processes, and support you need to run and grow a business.

Becoming a franchise owner is a process that takes planning, dedication, and due diligence. It involves a healthy dose of self-examination, research, asking good questions, and ultimately, making an informed decision that will give you the best chance at success and happiness.

While everyone’s journey to franchise ownership is different, those who find success in a business they enjoy typically follow a few basic steps, which we’ve broken down here one-by-one.

Whether you’re only just considering becoming a franchise owner or find yourself part-way through the process already, use this guide to ensure you’re checking all the boxes on the steps you need to take to make a truly informed decision about the franchise that’s right for you.

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Working with your significant other from a shared home office, when done right, can be a great way to enhance your relationship and share a personal and professional space together.

According to recent research, more and more people are working from home both full and part-time. A 2018 report from FlexJobs found that 3.9 million Americans now work from home at least half the time.

That trend is expected to continue to rise in the future. The same report found that hiring managers are forecasting that more than one-third of employees will work remotely in the next 10 years. Recent Census data also shows that more and more Americans are working from home each year. Read more