By: AllBusiness.com

Franchising is a formidable force in today's economy. The International Franchise Association reports that there are more than 760,000 franchised businesses in the United States today accounting for nearly $1.53 trillion, or close to 10 percent of our nation's output.

Franchising has helped many, many people achieve the American Dream. But franchising is not for everyone, nor is every franchise opportunity created equal. So before you jump on the franchising bandwagon, ask yourself these five questions.

1. Will I be happy as a franchisee?
Step back and take a good, long look at yourself to determine if franchising is really the right path for you. Ask yourself:

• Am I willing to embrace someone else's system without trying to do it my way or make it "better"?
• Can I follow someone else's lead and accept advice?
• Am I willing to be part of a network of franchisees realizing that there may be times when what is the best course for the network as a whole is not what I think is best for me?

If you can honestly answer "yes" to these questions, then you should continue to explore franchise opportunities. However, if you have a true entrepreneurial spirit -- if you want to do things your own way and can't resist the temptation to tweak a little here and there, or if you believe that you really do have a better secret recipe -- then you will probably be much happier on your own.

The second part of this question is whether your family will be happy with you as a franchisee. Starting any business requires long hours and hard, hard work -- and there's always the very real risk that things will not go as planned and will not work out in the end. Without the support of your family, a hard job will be even harder.

2. What is your exit strategy?
Although it may seem counterintuitive to figure out an exit strategy for a brand-new business venture, knowing where you want to end up can help you get there. Your primary concern will be to ensure that the franchise agreement you sign provides you the opportunity to exit or continue the business in accordance with your plans.

3. Is there a market for the franchise you want?
It is important to have a business you enjoy running, but it is essential to have a business that meets consumer demand in your market area. Selecting a franchise solely because the concept is a hobby of yours or you read somewhere that the concept is "hot" may result in failure.

Take an objective look at the area in which you wish to locate your business, and make sure that the consumers in this area share your interest in the concept. Make sure that they have both the desire and the ability to become your loyal customers in numbers sufficient to fuel your bottom line. Do your homework and don't get caught up in the hype of the moment.

4. How strong is the franchisor?
Not only is it important to select the proper business, but you must also select the right franchisor. Put aside the emotional "I want one of these" or "If I don't buy it someone else will" responses. Then step back and take an objective look at the strength of the franchisor. The franchisor's disclosure document -- the uniform franchise offering circular (UFOC) -- will tell you a lot of what you need to know to make an informed decision. Take the time to read it cover to cover, and have an attorney and an accountant familiar with franchising review the UFOC and the agreements that you will be signing. With their understanding of franchising, they can answer your questions and point out where your agreement differs from common practices in franchising.

You'll also want to talk with other franchisees in the system and those who have left the system. From them you will learn whether the franchisor has lived up to its promises, if their business has met their expectations, and if they are happy being a part of the franchise system.

5. How much money can you make?
Making money is the primary motivation for most people looking at buying a franchise. You will want to do your own projections of the startup costs, ongoing costs, and potential revenues. The franchisor is limited by the Federal Trade Commission in what financial information it can provide to prospective franchisees. The only information they can provide to you regarding income can be found in Item 19 of the UFOC. Make sure you read and understand Item 19. Cost information is in Items 5 through 8. Read and understand the information in these items and pay special attention to the notes explaining these numbers. Use this information to do your own business plan and financial projections.

Finally, remember that you are entering into a long-term agreement. Regardless of what all your research tells you, and in spite of your financial projections, your future happiness rests on whether or not you are cut out to be a franchisee and whether or not you like the franchisor and its staff. Do you believe they will provide the leadership and support you need as a franchisee? If you cannot answer yes to this question, then you should probably keep looking.

Get business franchise advice and compare top franchise opportunities at AllBusiness.com. AllBusiness.com provides resources to help you start, manage, and grow your franchise, or franchise your small business.