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Entrepreneurship Theory Process and Practice 9th Edition Kuratko Solutions Manual
Entrepreneurship Theory Process and Practice 9th Edition Kuratko Solutions Manual
Entrepreneurship Theory Process and Practice 9th Edition Kuratko Solutions Manual
CHAPTER OUTLINE
FEATURED CONTENT
Entrepreneurship in Practice: The “Real” Opportunities in Virtual Worlds
Chapter 7/ Pathways to Entrepreneurial Ventures
1
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated or posted to a publicly accessible
website, in whole or in part.
The Global Perspective: Taking Cues from the Third World
Entrepreneurship in Practice: Some of the Most Recognized Franchises
Entrepreneurship in Practice: To Franchise or Not to Franchise, That Is the Questions
The Entrepreneurial Process: The Franchise Disclosure Document
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
CHAPTER SUMMARY
The easiest and best way to approach a new business venture is to design a unique product or
service. Sometimes this involves what is called a new-new approach – that is, the development
of an entirely new idea for a product or service, as was the case with Zynga and Google. In most
instances, however, the prospective owner-manager must be content to use a new-old approach
by “piggybacking” on someone else’s ideas. This involves either expanding on what the
competition is doing or offering a product or service in an area where it is not presently
available.
On the financial side, the prospective owner-manager needs to examine the enterprise’s
financial picture and to determine the costs of setting up the operation and the amount of revenue
that will be generated during the initial period. Finally, the prospective owner-manager must
review a series of other operational considerations ranging from the building, merchandise, and
equipment needed for operations to record keeping, insurance, legal, marketing, and personal
matters.
Another opportunity is the purchase of an existing successful firm. It has a number of
advantages. Three of the most important are that its successful future operation is likely, the time
and effort associated with starting a new enterprise are eliminated, and a bargain price may be
possible.
Before deciding whether to buy, however, the prospective owner needs to ask and answer
a series of “right questions,” Some of these follow: Why is the business being sold? What is the
physical condition of the business? What is the condition of the inventory? What is the state of
the company’s other assets? How many of the employees will remain? What competition does
the business face? What is the firm’s financial picture?
After all questions have been answered satisfactorily, the prospective buyer must
negotiate for the business. In the final analysis, however, the prospective owner should be
concerned with buying the company’s assets at market value and then paying something for
goodwill if it is deemed an asset. Valuation is discussed further in Chapter 14.
Most business ideas for new ventures come from one’s experience, such as prior jobs,
hobbies or interests, and personally identified problems.
The entrepreneur must consider the enterprise’s financial picture. Consideration of start-
up and monthly expenses is a must. The entrepreneur must be concerned with upside gain
and downside loss (the profits the business can make and the losses it can suffer). The
entrepreneur must gain an adequate return on the amount of money risked.
Personal Preferences
Entrepreneurs need to limit their choices of ventures to buy by recognizing certain
personal factors: background, skills, interests, and experience all factors that should be
weighed in selecting the type of business to buy.
Examination of Opportunities
Business brokers, newspaper ads, trade sources, and professional sources can all be
sources of information for possible businesses to buy.
A GOOD PRICE
It may be possible to purchase on ongoing venture at a very good price.
Advantages of Franchising
TRAINING AND GUIDANCE
BRAND-NAME APPEAL
A PROVEN TRACK RECORD
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Disadvantages of Franchising
FRANCHISE FEES—It is not uncommon to be faced with fees of $50,000 to
$1,000,000.
FRANCHISOR CONTROL—The franchisor generally exercises a fair amount
of control over the operation in order to maintain a degree of uniformity.
UNFULFILLED PROMISES—In some cases, especially among less-known
franchisors, the franchisees have not received all they were promised.
Franchise Law
The courts tend to apply general common-law principles and appropriate federal or state
statutory definitions and rules, due to the absence of case law on franchises. Termination
provisions of franchise contracts normally favor the franchisors.
3. How can an individual who is thinking of going into business evaluate the financial
picture of the enterprise? Use the methodology of Table 7.2 to prepare your answer.
The entrepreneur must estimate how much it will cost to stay in a business for year, how
much revenue will be generated during this period, and how long it will take the company
to generate positive cash flow. An individual considering starting a business needs to
consider the start-up and monthly expenses of the operation. Upside gain and downside
losses must be estimated. What are the possible profits and losses of the company? Table
7.2 provides a helpful way of calculating these figures.
4. In addition to personal and financial issues, what other factors should the
prospective owner be concerned with? Describe at least four.
Factors to consider when going into business are many. Besides the personal and
financial, if you’re considering starting a business you should review operational
considerations such as the building, merchandise, and equipment needed for operations in
record keeping, insurance, legal, marketing, and personal matters. If you’re buying an
already existing business, you should also consider why the business is being sold, what
the condition of the business is, what the condition of the inventory is, what the state of
the company’s other assets are, how many of the employees will remain, and what the
competition is.
10. What are some of the major advantages of franchising? Cite and explain three.
The advantages of franchising include training and guidance from the franchisor, brand-
name appeal, a proven track record, and some financial assistance. Professional training
and guidance from an established franchise gives a franchisee a great advantage over the
small business owner starting from scratch. The franchise also has already invested
heavily to promote the name of the franchise, so the new business will have instant
recognition and legitimacy in the market. Franchises will often offer help in getting the
business started by offering loans and not requiring any repayment until the operation is
running smoothly.
11. What are some of the major disadvantages of franchising? Cite and explain at least
two.
The disadvantages of franchising are the franchise fees⎯both initial fee and royalty
payments each year, control exerted by the franchisor, and the sometimes unfulfilled
Chapter 7/ Pathways to Entrepreneurial Ventures
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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated or posted to a publicly accessible
website, in whole or in part.
promises made by franchisors to franchisees. There will the usual start-up costs of
creating a business, as well as the franchise fees that must be paid. This may prove too
large a burden for the entrepreneur. Many entrepreneurs enter business to be their own
boss, but the franchise may be stifling to the owner. With less established franchises with
less reliable reputations, franchisees may become frustrated if the franchisor is lax about
holding up their end of the contract.
13. In evaluating whether or not to buy a franchise operation, the potential investor
should ask a series of questions. What questions should the potential investor ask
about the franchisor, the franchise, the market, and the potential investor (himself
or herself)?
There are a number of questions the potential investor should ask:
(1) What are the contract provisions? Can the franchisor take away the franchise for
minor infractions?
(2) Is the franchise prospectus reasonable? Is the projected revenue too high for a new
unit? Is the return on investment overly optimistic? Would the bank be prepared to
advance a loan on this type of business undertaking?
(3) Does the investment look promising? What might go wrong and jeopardize those
investments?
(4) Ultimately, am I willing to take the risk on this franchise?
Disadvantages of franchising:
(1) Franchise fees—it is not uncommon to be faced with a fee of $5000 to 100,000
(2) Franchisor control—the franchisor generally exercises a fair amount of control over
the operation in order to maintain a degree of uniformity.
(3) Unfulfilled promises—in some cases, especially among less-known franchisors, the
franchisees have not received all they were promised.
Before a prospective entrepreneur goes into business, they need to ask a number of personal
questions. Ten questions are listed, and the reader is asked to mark the response that best fits
them. After answering the questions, the reader is to count the number of times the first choice
was selected and multiple it by 3, count the number of times the second choice was marked and
multiple it by 2, and count the number of times the third choice was marked. Total the three
numbers. The reader is advised that if the number is not at least 25, then they may want to
consider either bringing in a partner or abandoning the project.
3. When this is done, what else should Chris do? Outline a general course of action for
him. Once Chris finds out whether the market has potential, he then must determine if
it’s feasible for him to pursue. A doghouse that is well insulated, floored with washable
Chapter 7/ Pathways to Entrepreneurial Ventures
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© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated or posted to a publicly accessible
website, in whole or in part.
vinyl, and personalized to the dog and designed like the owner’s own home would
probably be more expensive than $500. Chris must begin to work with the concept to
make it appealing to consumers, both with regards to features and price, while still being
profitable to him. At this point, Chris might consider writing a business plan to examine
the different elements of his business that must be in place for him to be successful.
2. Would you recommend that Arlene buy the franchise from the woman who has
offered to sell? Why or why not?
Arlene should not buy the franchise from the woman. It could potentially be a good deal,
but she does not have enough information to go off of to make such a big decision. She
must first know all she can about the franchise before buying it.
Sources:
Question 1:
Franchising Weathers Economic Challenges (IFA PRESIDENT'S COLUMN)(Industry
overview). Matthew Shay.
Franchising World 40.5 (May 2008): p8(1).
Source Citation: Shay, Matthew. "Franchising weathers economic challenges.(IFA
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN)(Industry overview)." Franchising World 40. 5 (May 2008): 8(1).
Small Business Resource Center. Gale. Higher Education. 5 Nov. 2012.
Question 2:
Want to Buy a Business? Your Timing is Right
Chapter 7/ Pathways to Entrepreneurial Ventures
10
© 2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated or posted to a publicly accessible
website, in whole or in part.
Kiplinger Business Forecasts 2007.(Nov 5, 2007): pNA.
Source Citation: Mogul, Matthew. "Want to Buy a Business? Your Timing is Right." Kiplinger
Business Forecasts 2007. (Nov 5, 2007): NA. Small Business Resource Center. Gale. Higher
Education. 12 Oct. 2012.
Questions:
A. One major reason franchises have historically outperformed independent businesses during
bad economic times is job security. As corporations tighten their belts and reduce their
workforces, those who find themselves facing layoffs begin the search for alternatives. One
popular alternative is self-employment and it doesn't take long to realize that owning a
franchise is a much better alternative than starting a business from scratch.
As evidence of the resiliency of the franchising industry is the fact that the economic output
due to franchising grew by more than 40 percent, while all other businesses increased by only
26 percent. Employment in franchising grew by more than 12 percent compared to the 3
percent of other businesses. These growth rates have proven, beyond anecdotal evidence, that
franchising is counter-cyclical to an underperforming economy.
2. Why is there going to be a glut of businesses on the market for sale? What can you do
to prepare, if you were going to sell or buy one of these businesses?
A. Expect that many businesses will go up for sale as thousands of baby boomers retire. With
about 8,000 Americans turning 60 every day, more and more business owners are thinking
about retiring. By 2009, an estimated 750,000 companies owned by boomers -- one in every
six -- will be looking for buyers, up fifteen-fold from 2001.
Most firms will sell to strangers. Children today feel less pressure to run the family business,
and even those that want to often find it tough to come up with the cash to pay off parents or
other relatives who hold shares in the firm. Family in-fighting and prolonged legal spats also
make family handoffs that much harder. Studies show that less than 15% of family
businesses successfully make it down the third generation.
There will be opportunities to buy businesses at a discount. With roughly 20 million more
people in the boomer generation than the X Generation, there will be fewer potential buyers,
so a good price will be harder to find. Current business owners will need to an exit strategy to
avoid selling at a steep discount.
Expert advice is a must. Owners need to consult a battery of advisers, from attorneys to
accountants to appraisers, at least a year or so ahead of any expected sale. Potential buyers,
including rival businesses, private equity firms and venture capitalists, all have sophisticated
experts on their side and owners will need to be able to keep up. An exit planning team will
One option that's growing more popular is selling to employees -- either a management
buyout or employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Both take time to set up but give owners
the fulfillment that they're passing on their legacy. In management buyouts, owners must
weed out ill-suited managers and groom and train the best personnel so the firm will succeed
without them. In these cases, management will often buy into the business over a number of
years.
An ESOP tends to be a good route for firms with stable earnings and revenue. But the plan
gets way too costly for small firms -- those under $1 million in yearly pre-tax profit -- due to
associated upkeep costs like annual appraisals.