ECONOMICS REPORT - Franchises

ECONOMICS REPORT - Franchises²
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, January 09, 2004

This is Bob Doughty³ with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Success does not come easily to a small business. The United States Small Business Administration says fifty percent fail in the first year. The government agency says ninety-five percent of small businesses fail within five years.

Many owners believe one way to improve their chance of success is to buy an already recognized business through a franchise¹. A franchise provides a name and products that people know. One of the best known franchising⁴ companies in the world, for example, is McDonald's.

A person who wants to start a franchise must pay a fee. This amount of money depends on how much the franchising company expects the new business to earn. To open a McDonald's franchise costs at least five-hundred-thousand dollars in fees.

Franchise fees for some other companies are only a few thousand dollars. However, store space, goods and other things needed to operate a franchise may cost a lot more.

Franchise buyers agree to pay a percentage of their earnings⁵ every year for the right to operate the business. They also must agree to pay for marketing⁶ efforts. A percentage of earnings goes to national advertising⁷. Another percentage may go to local advertising.

The franchising company must approve where the new business will be. The contract agreement will also require the owner to observe a number of rules. These may restrict where the new franchise can do business. Contracts usually remain in effect for as long as twenty years.

Franchise owners must be prepared to work hard. But experts also say that some companies provide only limited training and other support. They say owners should make sure they understand what they can expect, and what is expected of them.

In the United States there are more than three-hundred thousand small business franchises. The Wall Street Journal says franchises operate in about seventy-five industries. They produce one-million-million dollars in sales a year. And they employ one in every sixteen Americans workers.

Franchises are a very big kind of small business. Like any other kind of business, though, there is no guarantee of success.

There is an International Franchise Association. The Web site for the group is franchise-dot-o-r-g.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Bob Doughty.

1 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

2 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

3 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

4 franchising   

v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Franchising has costs as well as benefits for the economy. 对整个经济来说特许经销有利也有弊。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Franchising, a practice adaptable to small business, has increased greatly in recent years. 近年来适用于小企业的特许经销发展得很快。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

5 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。