What you need to know before you look at franchises. Introduction to franchising -- Special advice for the first-time entrepreneur -- Setting your north star -- Matching your skills and aptitudes to opportunities -- The learning curve and lifecycle of a franchisee -- What insiders want you to know about franchising before you invest -- Assessing the skills and viability of a franchisor -- The franchisor landscape in the United States -- Understanding where franchisors are in their lifecycle and learning curve -- How do you find the right franchise?. Identifying potential franchise options -- The franchise buyer journey -- Your final decision checklist.