If your business growth has hit a plateau, you may wonder whether scaling’s just not in your future — or whether it’s time to consider a different strategy to grow your small business to the next level. You may be thinking about joining a franchise network and converting your small business into a franchise.

Franchising can offer small to midsize companies like yours several advantages. One is instant brand recognition and trust. That’s not an insubstantial consideration, given that 60% of consumers indicate a strong predisposition toward brand loyalty and that people tend to purchase from companies they already follow online.…