Bisio - The Educated Franchisee: The How-To Book for Choosing a Winning Franchise, 2nd Edition

Copyright 2011 by Rick Bisio

Bascom Hill Publishing Group

212 3rd Ave North, Suite 570

Minneapolis, MN 55401

888.645.5248

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-935098-80-5

Rick has rewritten the expression live and learn to say study, learn ... and earn. For someone thinking about business ownership, that approach is more powerful and relevant.David G. McKinnon IFA Entrepreneur of the Year 2001, Co- Founder, CEO and Chairman of Service Brands International (Molly Maid, Mr. Handyman, 1-800-Dry Clean, Ductz Air Duct Cleaning)

Becoming a business owner is scary, and for good reason if you dont know exactly what to do to be successful. The Educated Franchisee takes stress out of the process and gives you everything you need to make confident, smart decisions. This book will be your most valuable ally as you discover the lucrative and exciting world of franchise ownership.Larina Kase PsyD MBA New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Confident Speaker and Business Coach to franchisees

Fear is a good motivator. So is wealth. This book shows they can work together to help you find success as an entrepreneur in franchising.Frank Carney Co-Founder Pizza Hut - Current Franchisee Papa Johns Pizza

The power of knowledge when met with the ability to dream come together in a fantastic roadmap that is The Educated Franchisee. Whether it is understanding what makes a good entrepreneur or, taking that a step further, what makes a good franchise, this book gives a frank and honest picture of dreams in a very real world of possibilities; the world of business and franchising. Read and learn.Dina Dwyer-Owens Chairwoman and CEO, The Dwyer Group

If youre wondering whether its time for a change in life this is a must read! Its filled with insights and useful nuggets of information. Let Ricks experience and wisdom be your guide to understanding how to harness the power of franchising.Lori Kiser-Block President, FranChoice, Inc.

Rick Bisios effort to help prospective franchise investors gain the education and knowledge they need to enter the exciting world of franchising is an important undertaking in arapidly-growingindustry. His experience asa franchise professional gives him special insights into the needs of those new to franchising.Matthew R. Shay President, International Franchise Association

Invaluable. In many ways becoming an entrepreneur is like going into space - the better you prepare, the lower the risk. This book will help you plan for a safe and exciting voyage.Andy Allen NASA Astronaut (Pilot 1992 and 1994, Mission Commander 1996), Top Gun Pilot, Franchisee of BounceU

The Educated Franchisee is a must read for anyone thinking about or actively pursuing a franchise business. Read it and save yourself enormous amounts of time and money!John Hewitt is the Founder and CEO of Liberty Tax Service, Co-Founder of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and the IFA Entrepreneur of the Year 2006. Mr. Hewitt is the only individual to have founded two top 10 ranked franchise systems.

The Educated Franchisee provides the small businessperson the tools to achieve The American Dream of successful ownership. Ricks approach makes it easy to take the journey toward wealth creation. A must read for any potential franchisee!Jon Luther Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin Brands, Former President of Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits, Winner of the IMFA 2007 Gold Plate Award, Chain Leaders 2006 Leadership award and Nations Restaurant News Golden Chain Award

From the psychology of success to financing alternatives it is all here. Powerfully written in a no nonsense style. If The Educated Franchisee cannot get you there, no book will! Rick Bisio has coached thousands of people to wonderful life decisions - including me.Barb and Ford Kyes ActionCOACH Firm franchisee owner and former CEO, St. Anthonys Health Care, St. Petersburg, Florida

Often what you know is significantly less important than having the right people around you, supporting you and providing you with great advice. In that regard, I have been blessed. This book simply would not have happened without the support of several key people.

The first person to thank is my wife, Anne-Lise. It was through your vision that the idea of a book was created and through your willingness to sacrifice that I was able to find the time to make this book happen. I also thank you for your editing, layout, proofing and research. You are my one and only.

In addition, I thank Mike Kohler for sticking with me during this process and putting up with my constant need to improve the book. Your patience, wisdom and hard work over the past 18 months have allowed this book to mature and evolve. I have great respect for you. You can be proud of your work.

There have been a number of other people that have been exceptionally supportive. I thank Britt Schroeter, Stephen Hogan and Patty Norman for their willingness to spend countless hours critiquing early versions of this book. Your work has significantly improved the book. I also thank Diane Pleuss for her guidance and effort in final editing and proofreading.

I also wish to thank all the folks at FranChoice, both in the corporate office and the consultant base. You are some for the most experienced, thoughtful, and supportive people I have ever come to know. I thank each of you for your willingness to share your ideas and approaches over the years. Whether you know it or not, you are reflected in this book.

Finally, I would like to thank my parents. You have shown me how to work hard while maintaining a high sense of integrity. You have significantly contributed to my love of business ownership and to my appreciation of family. It is through your example that I build success as an entrepreneur and as a person.

If Rick Bisio wanted to be a salesman, I have no doubt that he would be a great one. In fact, I'm sure he would be a rousing success at whatever he set his mind to, but I think of the sales arena specifically because of the balance Rick brings to his craft.

Balance is what makes Rick an outstanding teacher.

Rick understands - and I'm sure it's instinctive - where lines are to be drawn. He exudes optimism, without being salesy. He's action-oriented, without being pushy. Best of all, Rick's a great sounding board because of a winning formula: active listening followed by thought-provoking feedback. In other words, he doesn't just tell people what they want to hear; he makes them consider what they need to hear.

If you look strictly at Rick's track record, the numbers instantly proclaim the obvious. He's been one of the country's most successful franchise consultants for years. However, that snapshot alone doesn't explain how balance is instrumental in Rick's work.

Balance stems from Rick's well rounded experiences, traits that portray deeper dimensions of Rick and his work. The numbers tell Rick is successful. Probing below the surface tells why he is so successful.

His history includes roles ranging from teacher to franchisee to corporation executive to entrepreneur. And all of those roles are marked by high achievement.