Q:...Franchised businesses account for nearly 50% of all retail sales in the United States.
Q:...The International Franchise Association has reported that franchising is responsible for 
  .... 760,000 businesses, 18 million jobs, 14 percent of the private sector employment, and over
  ...$500 billion in payroll!
Q:...From January, 2000 to December, 2004 the index that tracks the performance of the top
      50 franchisors increased 34.5% compared to a drop of 20.1% in the S&P 500 over the
........same period.
Q:...A 1999 study by The United States Chamber of Commerce found that 86% of franchises
...... opened within the last five years were still under the same ownership and 97% of the were
........still open for business.
Q:...A U.S. Department of Commerce study conducted from 1971 to 1997 showed that during
........that time less than 5% of franchise businesses were closed each year.
Q:...A U.S. Small Business Administration study conducted from 1978 to 1998 found that 62%
.......of non-franchised businesses closed within the first 6 years of their existence due to failure,
.......bankruptcy, etc.
Q:...Total sales by franchised businesses are projected to reach over $2 trillion, this year.
Q:...1 out of every 12 businesses is a franchised business.
Q:...A new franchised business is opened every 8 minutes of every business day.
Q:...In 2000, the median gross annual income, before taxes, of franchisees was in the $75,000
........to $124,000 range, with over 30% of franchisees earning over $150,000 per year.