Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Successful corporate executives who, after 10-30 years in the business world, believe they may be ready to do something on their own but aren’t sure if they have “the right stuff” at the right time and want to find out.

Q: What is the book about?
A: As the American economic landscape shifts, seasoned corporate executives are looking at independent business ownership as a way to secure and control their futures, and franchised businesses are growing in their appeal.

But pouring a large amount of money into a franchise does not guarantee success. In this book, you’ll find out:

• How to determine if you can succeed as a franchise owner;
• What dangerous pitfalls to avoid as a buyer;
• The potential rewards of owning your own business;
• Whether or not the numbers make sense;
• Ways to raise money for your venture;
• And much more!

If you are tired of the corporate world and want to escape the rat race, then let Mitchell York, a successful franchisee and professional certified coach, guide you through the many steps involved in deciding whether or not to buy a franchise and how to do it right. As the former president of LendingTree Inc. and other major companies, he now owns a profitable and growing franchised business, and he’s sharing his secrets for success in Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy?

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), credentialed by the International Coach Federation, so I know how to coach people in a process like this. Moreover, I had a very successful corporate career myself, including being president of LendingTree Inc., so I’m not just a dillatante offering advice. And finally, I own a highly profitable franchised business myself, having re-invented the franchisor’s business model to suit my needs and in the process becoming its highest profit-margin franchisee. I am also a certified job search and career coach through a company called The Five O’Clock Club (www.fiveoclockclub.com), a national coaching and outplacement firm, so I am able to help people determine whether a business, or perhaps just a better job search, is the right path for them. I also am a featured blogger for www.AllBusiness.com, writing about franchising, and I write my own blog at www.e2ecoaching.com

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Other books tell you how franchises operate but not whether the entire concept is right for you.
This is the only book that targets successful corporate executives as potential franchise owners.
This is the only book written by a former senior executive of a major corporation who traded pinstripes for a Hawaiian shirt and a tiki bar, and who is also a certified business coach.

Q: Anything else we should know about this book?
A: The author offers a no-cost consultation with readers who may be thinking about business ownership after their corporate careers to help them determine whether it is the right path for them, and if so how to proceed on to success.