Need a list of books about franchising that will help you become a successful franchise owner? Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, we have a list for you.

Books on Entrepreneurism

Books on broader topics are definitely helpful, but don’t overlook the genre that is franchising-specific.

At its heart, franchising is very much an entrepreneurial venture. And as with any such venture, there are some foundational bits of wisdom that others have defined along the way. These books, although not specifically books about franchising, can help you on your journey toward franchise ownership.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Author: Simon Sinek. Publisher: Portfolio

It’s got 4.5 stars out of 19,000+ reviews on Amazon. It’s got a devoted following on TikTok, where content creators cite some of the lessons the book teaches, such as, “There are only two ways to influence human behavior: You can manipulate it or you can inspire it.”

And U.S. News & World Report writes of the book, “During a 2009 TED Talk that’s been viewed more than 56 million times, Sinek told the crowd, ‘People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.’ ‘Start with Why’ explores this idea further, outlining how entrepreneurs and business owners can discover their purpose and, in turn, inspire others.”

Outliers: The Story of Success. Author: Malcolm Gladwell. Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Another book with a 4.5-star rating on Amazon from 18,000+ reviewers, Outliers caused quite a stir when it was published in 2008 with the 10,000-hour rule that posits it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. More importantly, Gladwell examines the data behind the successes of real-life examples and translates his findings into information that’s highly readable for the average person.

Books About Franchising

Books on broader topics are definitely helpful, but don’t overlook the genre that is franchising-specific. From history of to case studies, there are plenty of books on the topic of franchising. Here are some that might be useful.

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant. Authors: W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press

This book challenges traditional thinking about business strategy and resulting success. With 4 million copies sold in 46 languages across five continents, they may be onto something. Described as a “paradigm shift” by Entrepreneur, the book can provide valuable insight into why franchisors do what they do – and may help franchise buyers narrow their choices to the savviest brands.

The Franchisee Handbook: Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Franchise. Author: Mark Seibert. Publisher: Entrepreneur Press

Among the newer books on our list, this 2019 tome is perfect for the first-time franchise buyer. “Why start a business from scratch when you can have a piece of the greatest expansion strategy ever conceived?” the book blurb asks. “Franchising is BIG and getting bigger in every sector―from restaurants and coffee chains to pet care and insurance. There is a franchise for everything and everyone.” This book will help you assess risk, create a startup plan that jibes with your goals and learn how to vet opportunities to find the best fit.

Learn more about franchising with HFC

At Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), we appreciate it when potential buyers have done their homework. Our award-winning franchise brands don’t require any industry-specific background, but business acumen is always a valued trait. All our brands share a commitment to a world-class franchise model, flexibility and endless potential. Our franchise brands include AdvantaClean, Budget Blinds, Concrete Craft, Tailored Closet, Kitchen Tune-Up, Bath Tune-Up, and our latest brands, Two Maids & A Mop and Aussie Pet Mobile.

If you’d like to learn more about the opportunities with our family of franchise brands, please check out our franchise blog and submit your information through our no-obligation form, and one of our Franchise Consultants will be in touch.