You should dig into your own personality to decide whether you should buy a new franchise or an existing business for sale. In general, franchises offer an environment similar to the corporate environment with written processes that clearly describe all job functions to be performed by the franchise owner and his/her employees. The franchise environment is excellent for individuals who are comfortable in a corporate environment or who have previous employment in corporations and who want to own their own business but not necessarily be their own boss. A franchisee (a person who owns a franchise) does not have full control of his/her operations since he/she is required to follow the standard franchise processes.

If you are the type of individual who would like to be your own boss and have complete control over your life and business then franchising is not for you. If you buy a non franchised existing business you will have the opportunity to apply your own ideas in your day to day business and will not have to report to anybody else other than yourself (and may be your spouse!).

Please browse the following link for extensive information about the franchise industry in Canada and an extensive directory of franchises for sale in Canada. Please be very vigilant when selecting the right franchise for yourself since there are many franchises for sale in the market that are simply not viable business opportunities.

The Canadian Franchise Association
Everything you need to know about the franchise industry in Canada.

Franchises for Sale recognized by C.F.A. 

This is a comprehensive list of franchises for sale in Canada. These franchisers are members of the Canadian Franchise Association and are binded by its ethical standards. This is a very good starting point for entrepreneurs interested in buying a new franchise.