Bill McPherson is regional vice president of retail network development for AlphaGraphics, a leading franchisor of printing and marketing solutions; PostNet, a global leader in high-quality printing and shipping solutions; and World Options, a global leader of freight and logistics solutions. With more than 29 years of franchise leadership, he has led franchise development and real estate for B2B, B2C, retail, and in-home senior care concepts.

Bill believes that owning a franchise simplifies the business ownership process while still providing franchise owners with the satisfaction of running their own business.

Franchise Chatter (FC): Franchising industry experts have noted that interest in franchising has been booming over the past several years. Why are so many people choosing to leave their corporate jobs and move into franchising?

Bill McPherson (BM): There are several factors that have contributed to the growth of franchising, so it’s not just one thing.

First, you have thousands of Baby Boomers who have retired from their careers but are still healthy enough to stay active. Many are investing some retirement savings into a well-established franchise so they can continue to earn money and stay active.

Secondly, there are many people who are tired of making money for others. They want to leave their corporate job and spend their time working for themselves. They figure that if they must work, they want the money they earn to ultimately stay with them.

Then there are those who want to go into business for themselves, but they know how many independent businesses fail during their first year. By buying into a proven business model and working hard, they can be their own bosses, but they have the safety net of brand recognition and built-in training and support.

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