the downsides to franchising

I've been working with a local real estate agent lately, helping him to boost his website traffic and search engine optimization, and as a result I have started to see the ugly side of franchising. In his case, since he is with a nationally known real estate franchise, his hands are tied when it comes to the web services he is supposed to work with. He can only work with me as an "advisor" even though there are lots of changes that I could do to his existing web presence to help. Alas, he is using a company 1500 miles away. He never gets to meet them in person, has to wait for someone to return his calls, and doesn't get that personal face-to-face service that can make web design such a positive experience.

Other downsides to franchises revolve around rules and limitations that remind of home owners association restrictions - what colors you can use, how you can use your establishment, etc. While it definitely makes sense to go with a franchise in some situations, it is something that any potential business owner needs to seriously evaluate. If you value total control and freedom or the ability to change your business model at whim, you may be better off on your own.