Follow the plan

Date AddedJuly 14, 2009 12:03:27 AM

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Look back over the last 33 years, and you can see that McDonald's has played a major role in Linda Chapman's life.
She started working behind the counter at a McDonald's in Howell on Route 9 at age 18, serving up burgers and working the register, to pay her way through college. Eventually, she became a manager.
Chapman decided to make a move to McDonald's operator 10 years ago and now co-owns 16 locations in Monmouth and Ocean counties with her husband, Harry "Sandy" Chapman, the son of the McDonald's owner who gave her a start.
"I really loved what I was doing," said Chapman, 51, Toms River. "It's hard work but it's very rewarding."
Chapman's experience working at McDonald's over the years gave her the experience to run an operation. She could have opened up her own restaurant or another business, but she chose to become a franchise owner.
She's not alone. Franchising can be a successful way of getting into business, said Justin M. Klein, a Red Bank lawyer who specializes in franchising issues.
There are 20,636 franchise businesses in New Jersey, everything from fast-food restaurants to fitness centers, according to the International Franchise Association.
"I think franchising is a phenomenal way for people who otherwise want to get into business, but don't have either the wherewithal, the time, the money or the creative expertise to get into business," Klein said.
The number of franchise businesses increased by 5.6 percent a year from 2001 to 2005, the IFA states. But the recession has taken its toll. Growth slowed to 2.1 percent between 2007 and 2008, and the association expects a 1.2 decline in 2009.
Typically during a recession, franchises tend to outperform other businesses, IFA spokeswoman Alisa Harrison said. As people lose their jobs in the middle of their career, they turn to franchises as an option to start over.
Like other problems in the economy, the decline is tied to the credit crunch, as banks tighten lending standards.
"We are hearing from an anecdotal standpoint, from our members, that they are seeing great, qualified candidates," Harrison said. "The lack of financing is slowing them down."

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