http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/startup/franchise.html

The SBA’s guide to buying a franchise.

http://www.inc.com/guides/buy_biz/20674.html

Guide to buying a franchise. Covers a number of topics including investigating franchisors, writing a franchise business plan, understanding franchise agreements, and franchise management.

http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/buyingabusiness/a/buyingabusiness.htm

Buying a Business: The Safer Alternative - Starting a business is no easy task. If you are serious about operating your own business, you might want to consider minimizing some of the anguish and pain associated with startups by purchasing an established business.

http://www.businessbookpress.com/articles/article101.htm

Find the Right Business to Buy - You need to gather as much information as you can which will help you to find a suitable operating business for sale, to properly value the business, to successfully conduct negotiations, and finally, to actually close the deal and transfer ownership.

http://www.allbusiness.com/business_advice/Center_All_Articles.asp?ID=29#Sub1771

A large collection of articles about buying a business.

http://www.ftc.gov/bizopps/

The Federal Trade Commission’s site about business opportunity fraud. What You Don't Know About Biz Op Fraud Can Hurt You -- And Your Wallet!

http://www.business.gov/phases/launching/buy_business/index.html

Buy A Business - Once the decision is made to start a business, often the next decision is either to buy an existing business or start a new venture from scratch. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. A collection of articles presented by the US Government.

http://www.business.gov/phases/launching/buy_franchise/index.html

Buy A Franchise - Business franchising offers many opportunities. This form of ownership has helped many entrepreneurs get started in business and succeed. A collection of articles presented by the US Government.

http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/42CD1570-AC36-44DD-A6EB310F081BC349/catID/C1DBB6FC-F9C3-40CA-8A4D77366ED0D4D5/111/254/ART/

Buying a Business: What You Need to Know - Thinking about purchasing an existing business? Here are some things you should know before you take the plunge.

http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/08763271-6276-4E6F-99207042EB70AD8A/catID/C1DBB6FC-F9C3-40CA-8A4D77366ED0D4D5/111/254/ART/

Ten Good Reasons Not to Buy a Franchise - Thinking about buying a franchise? Here are ten reasons why you should consider investing your time and money elsewhere.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/invest/buyfran.htm

A Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise

http://www.entrepreneur.com/franzone/guide/0,3422,,00.html

How to Research and Buy a Franchise - With detailed data on everything from starting your research to understanding a franchise agreement to finding franchise funding, this easy-to-follow guide provides all the information you need to find and buy a franchise.

http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/issues/business_startups/business_opportunities/10_things_to_know_before_buying_a_franchise.mspx

10 Things to Know Before Buying a Franchise - buying a franchise is not an easy ticket to business success. For every success, there are many more failures, and the business landscape is littered with franchise fiascos due to conflicts between franchisees and franchisors.

http://www.startupjournal.com/franchising/

The Wall Street Journal’s Center for Entrepreneurs presents a large collection of articles about various aspects of franchising.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/franzone/allabout/0,6727,,00.html

All About Franchising - From researching and financing your franchise purchase to daily operations and working with your franchisor, here's everything you need to know about franchise ownership.