More than 550,000 franchise businesses dot the American landscape, generating more than $800 billion in sales. With a new franchise business opening somewhere in the U.S. every 8 minutes each business day, franchising is indeed the success story of the 1990's.

If you are the type of person who wants to own your own business and be your own boss, there's a place in franchising for you.

The opportunities available in franchising are drawing people from every walk of life. corporate and professional people are buying franchises every day. Young people, just out of college, are considering franchises. The number of women and minority franchise owners is increasing dramatically. Investors at all levels are finding that few financial investments can compete with the potential of a good franchise.

Franchising is especially atractive because it offers a good opportunity to people with various levels of capital and experience. Small business people are attracted, not only for the chance to be on their own, but also for the chance to do so within an established system. Retired people from many fields find that franchises are an excellent way to stay active and a good source of retirement income.

Franchise owners like franchising because they can be in business for themselves but they're never left by themselves, the franchisor is always there to help. Franchisors like franchising because it is the best growth system ever devised.

The public likes franchising because franchised stores offer known names and dependable standards of quality. And that's the real reason for franchising's success -- the customers give it their wholehearted support at the cash register.

For all these reasons, there has never been a better time for you to think about owning a franchise business. There's never been a better time to go into business and there's never been a better way to go into business than franchising.