Want to trade in your nine-to-five job and work for yourself? You’re not alone. Self-employment is on the rise in America, right alongside the number of people earning six-figure incomes doing so, according to a recent report.

In 2017, the total number of self-employed Americans increased to 40.8 million. That’s up 2.8% from 2016, according to the report by MBO Partners. The number of full-time independent workers earning $100,000 or more rose to 3.2 million, up 4.9% since 2016.

In addition to earning more money, self-employed individuals are also reporting that they’re more happy and healthy without corporate shackles. 77% of self-employed survey respondents say they are happier working on their own than in a traditional job and 64% said independent work is better for their health.

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The handyman and home services industry is one of the most resilient areas for new business owners. Unlike many other markets, customer spending has already returned to pre-recession levels. Today, the industry is exploding thanks in part to online and mobile booking services that make it easier to find home service providers than ever before.

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There are different kinds of people who purchase franchises. Some like working on all the behind the scenes tasks that come with running a business (financials, marketing, planning, inventory, etc.) while some prefer to hire someone to take care of it so they can spend more time selling or working face to face with customers. Others fall somewhere in between.

When it comes to marketing your franchise, you may instantly identify with someone who wants to handle all the marketing aspects on their own, or identify as someone who wants to outsource those types of activities. But the in-between folks may not have a clear idea of what counts as marketing or what needs to be done to get their business out into the world and draw in more customers.

In this post, we’ll cover how to identify whether you’re a good fit for DIY marketing along with some tools and tactics that are must haves to reach your technology-driven customers. Read more

When you’re looking to purchase a home, one of the main considerations is location. The same consideration applies when you’re looking to purchase a franchise. And whether you are opening a brick and mortar store or operating the franchise from within your home, your overall location can play a big part in your success. Read on to learn what you should look for and some red flags when evaluating your future franchise home.

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Going to a franchise expo or trade show can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. But with a healthy dose of planning, you can make the experience well worth the effort.

With roughly 733,000 franchise establishments in the United States connected to thousands of franchisors, it’s important to do your research and carefully evaluate the franchise concepts available to you. In this guide, we’ve taken tips from those who did just that and emerged as successful franchise owners.

Read on to learn how to smartly plan your visit to a franchise expo and come out of it with a clear list of opportunities that suit your goals, skills, and lifestyle.

Interested in more tips about finding and buying the right franchise for you? Read our Q&A guide filled with firsthand tips from successful franchise owners.

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