Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership, and Why It Belongs on Your “Serious Options” List
When most people hear the word “franchise,” they picture fast food. That assumption quietly eliminates a huge section of the market. Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership is Jon Ostenson’s compact, practical guide to what franchising can look like outside of restaurants and how to evaluate it with clear eyes before you spend real money.
What this book does well
Ostenson lays out the core appeal of non-food franchising in plain language: you are buying into a proven operating model, training, and support structure, rather than inventing everything from scratch. But he doesn’t oversell the idea. He’s careful to distinguish between different ownership styles, including owner-operator and semi-absentee “executive model” ownership, and what each one realistically requires.
That distinction matters because it’s where many buyers get tripped up. People hear “semi-absentee” and mentally translate it to “passive.” This book pushes back on that. The point isn’t to scare you off. It’s to help you define the role you actually want, then choose a model that matches it.
Who should read it
Professionals exploring a transition from corporate life into business ownership
Investors who want to understand franchising as a cash-flow business (not a hobby)
Anyone who likes the idea of entrepreneurship, but wants a tested blueprint and support system
My takeaway
This is not a massive, theory-heavy book. It’s a fast read designed to get you oriented, help you ask smarter questions, and avoid common blind spots early in the process. If you’ve been curious about franchising but don’t want the chaos of a food operation, this book gives you a grounded view of what else is out there and how to think about it.
Jon Ostenson will be my guest on Your Partner In Success Radio in early February, 2026. Stay tuned!
You can find this book on Amazon here.