Computer Franchise Opportunities Abound for MBAs

If your lack of technical expertise has been holding you back from acquiring a computer franchise, it's time to set your fears aside. Leading IT franchisors agree: what's really important is knowing how to manage a business.

Listen to computer franchise companies themselves:

• CMIT Solutions: "Surprisingly, many of our owners don’t come from technical backgrounds. They have business management, sales, and HR experience."

• Fast-teks: "Our franchise owners do not need prior computer related experience to be successful. In fact, our top producing franchises have come from various industries unrelated to technology."

• Friendly Computers: "Some of our top franchisees didn’t have computer skills when they invested in a Friendly Computers franchise either, but that didn’t stop them. All you need are four things: a strong passion to succeed, the willingness to let us guide you, the desire to control your own future and of course, a love for technology."

IT experience won't hurt you, but if you're running the computer franchise, you'll probably be hiring techs anyway. Let them worry about the day-to-day issues. IT franchisors would rather that you have previously owned a business, managed a branch of a national chain, or earned an MBA.

Just the start-up costs of any computer franchise should make it clear that business acumen is essential. Managing tens of thousands of dollars right at the beginning, plus dealing with revenue, expenses, advertising, and hiring throughout the life of the franchise, is the job of an entrepreneur, not a technician.

FranchiseKnowHow lists several qualities you should have, not just for a computer franchise, but any franchise opportunity. They include the ability to make and maintain interpersonal connections, being willing to ask for help from the franchisor, and avoiding unnecessary risks. Not a thing about programming a network switch.

As always, consult with your attorney and accountant before purchasing any computer franchise.

And to learn more about franchises that are especially relevant for small business VARs and MSPs, be sure to download your free copy of the quick reference guide to the 13 Computer Franchises that Start Up and Support Computer Repair, IT Consulting, and Managed Service Provider Businesses.

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