The Ledger:

Traditionally, the franchise industry has been a popular venue during tough economic times.

However, recent credit issues have caused franchise growth to decrease. The growth in the number of establishments slowed to 2.1 percent in 2007-2008, and the International Franchise Association projects a decrease in the number of establishments by 1.2 percent in 2009, which equates to a decline of about 10,000 establishments.

Still, despite the hard economic times, some are taking the plunge into franchising.

Here, local and national franchise experts explain what it takes to be a franchisee and the current economic factors influencing franchises.

Becoming A Franchisee
Lakeland’s Alan Harris, 33, has franchised two 7-Eleven stores in Polk County, one located at 2010 Edgewood Drive in Lakeland, the other at 7040 N. State Road 37 in Mulberry. He is the only Polk County franchise owner to own multiple 7-Eleven locations, according to Ivelise Nunez, a sales manager for 7-Eleven. Harris hopes to buy a third in the future.

Choosing to franchise 7-Eleven stores was simple for Harris. He grew up around the 7-Eleven business, and his father worked for 7-Eleven for about 20 years. Read on.

Photo: Cindy Skop | The Ledger.

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