Article: Franchises no longer provide safe harbor from risk. (Small Business Quarterly)

Conventional wisdom has always held that buying into a national franchise is one of the safest ways for someone to own a small business. Whether it's a fast-food restaurant or an auto tune-up shop, a franchise outlet could offer neophyte business owners cost-effective access to instant name recognition and the marketing clout of a major corporation.

The investment would be relatively risk-free, as the story goes, and perhaps the franchise could even be built into a family enterprise for generations to come.

But franchises' reputation for safety may no longer be deserved -- especially in Los Angeles -- according to new studies and several experts on ...

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