Meet the Entrepreneur - Joel Libava

Business programs co-sponsored by the new Ashland University Eagle Entrepreneurs student organization and the Morgan Center for Entrepreneurial Studies will be held on Feb. 8 and Feb. 17 in the Ridenour Room of the Dauch College of Business and Economics. Both programs are free and open to the public.

The program will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17 and is a franchising workshop with Joel Libava, president of Franchise Selection Specialists Inc. in Cleveland. The workshop is titled “The What, When, Where, How & Why of Franchising.”

Libava, who is also known as "The Franchise King®" (www.thefranchiseking.com), will present a workshop on franchising that will answer the questions: Is franchising right for you?, What do you need to know?, What professional advisers do you need?, Can you obtain financing?, What are the risks? and How do you choose a franchise?

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that franchising sales accounted for $1.3 trillion (17 percent) of $7.7 trillion in total sales in 2007. Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2011, reported that "the companies in their Franchise 500 added more than 12,000 franchise units from 2009 to 2010.

Those wanting more information about the programs can contact Read Wakefield, director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Room 112, Ashland University Dauch College of Business & Economics, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805, 419-289-5039 or rwakefie@ashland.edu.