For many becoming a business owner is often synonymous with the American dream, and there isn’t just one path to entrepreneurship. The three main options for entrepreneurship are starting up a business, buying a franchise business, and buying an established business. Each of these options differ in their main pros and cons, but the following guide will help you begin to explore your best option for entrepreneurship.
Option 1: Starting Up a Business
Starting a business from scratch certainly has its pros and cons. Starting up a business takes a good amount of capital, and a lot of tenacity for building the foundation of the business. The success rates of starting up a business are also not in your favor, as 50% of businesses fail within the first 5 years. What starting up a business does provide is the opportunity to pursue a business you're passionate about and control the formation of the business every step of the way. And if the business idea is especially unique, it is unlikely there would be an alternative option to starting up a business.
Option 2: Buying a Franchise Business
Buying a franchise business is a great option for entrepreneurship. Franchise businesses have higher success rates because of their already proven business model, and they come with corporate support for many key items like training, and advertising. However, not all franchises are created equal so it is important to do your due diligence when choosing a franchisor to work with. One of the cons of buying a franchise business can be the lack of control a business owner has over their business.
Option 3: Buying an Established Business
Buying an established business offers a number of pros for a business owner. Purchasing a business provides immediate access to cash flow, a reputation, and business history. Depending on the size of the business, it may already have skilled employees and management in place, which is definitely a perk when compared to the cost of hiring and training employees for a startup business. One of the cons of buying a business, is that you have little control over everything that has already been established, and upon purchase you can’t make too many initial changes.
As outlined in our guide, there are pros and cons to each of the three options for entrepreneurship, and if your unsure which option is best for you, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our knowledgeable brokers.
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Rachael Holstein has been the Marketing Manager for Transworld - Rocky Mountain since 2016. Her work experience has been largely focused on business development and marketing in business brokerage, finance, architecture, property management, and information technology. A long time resident of Cleveland, Ohio, she attained her undergrad from John Carroll University and her Master’s Degree from Cleveland State University. In 2013, she relocated to Denver with her husband, Joe, and her furry companions to explore the mile high lifestyle!
