It’s hard to consider certain possibilities in our life. Whether it’s creating a will, designing an exit plan, or getting affairs in order, people naturally stray away from activities that have to do with their potential demise or disability in the future. I admit planning for the possible early end to your life is never an ideal prospect.

Ultimately, the defining factor when reviewing territory comes down to a single question: “Do you have a large enough customer base to be successful?” While there are several components to that question, this is what you are looking to determine.

The temptation to go national out of the gate when launching a new franchise will be strong. If you haven’t filed in a registration or filing state, you are not allowed to talk to interested parties in that state. Even for a small operation, the possibility of turning away prospects in a neighboring state will leave a bad taste behind.

Evolving your current business into a thriving franchise is a more comprehensive process than most business owners realize. At its core, you are transitioning from selling your current products, such as bagels, to selling and training individuals on the dream of running your current business model. That’s a dramatic shift from your current role.