THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE What is the reputation of the company and its products or services? To answer this question, talk to people who are familiar with the product, check it out yourself, and write to the Better Business Bureau in both your city and in the city of the franchise headquarters. Ask for a report on the company. The product or service does not always have to be part of a growing market since many markets are on the borderline between slow growth and "taking off." What you have to watch out for is a declining market. The best way to check for information on growth or near growth is to request marketing data from the franchisor, check with your broker, write to the trade magazine covering the market in question, check it out at your local business library, and discuss it with your regional Small Business Administration office.