|
HISTORY
OF FRANCHISING
 Franchising
started during the Civil War,
when the Singer Sewing Machine
Co. figured out a way to grow
its retail operation without
spending its own capital. Singer
sold 'franchises' to local
operators who then built and
maintained their own stores
while selling the manufacturer's
products.
In the
early 1900s car manufacturers
adopted the same system and sold
franchised dealerships all over
the country. They were followed
by the oil companies, who
franchised gas stations to fuel
the cars.
In 1924,
two entrepreneurs named Allen
and White gave all those new
drivers a destination—a
franchised chain of A&W Root
Beer drive-in restaurants.
Thousands of other restaurants
began franchising soon
afterward. Franchising is
a very useful tool in building a
brand.
|
