There are over 10,000 different franchise systems in the world today from shoe repair to sushi. The most important thing to keep in mind before you sign any documents is the exit strategy. My father used to tell me that he didn't care that the airline had graciously placed a life preserver under his seat; he was more interested in finding the exit doors of the airplane. The key to finding a good franchise system is understanding when and how you are exiting the system.