I hear it all the time from prospects: "I'm just waiting for the right time."
They're waiting for the economy to stabilize. For interest rates to drop. For some magical alignment of circumstances that will make the decision feel easy.
Here's what I've learned after years in this business: There's no such thing as the perfect time.
The only thing you can control is what you do. And whether the economy is good or bad, you need to keep moving forward on your goals.
But I'll also tell you this - right now, we're in about as favorable a position as I've seen in years.
Remember last year? All the debates about tax rates. The big, beautiful bill. What tariffs would do to the economy.
Most of that has been settled now. For good or for bad, we know what we're dealing with.
And here's what most people don't understand: certainty matters more than perfection.
Let me give you some perspective on where we are right now:
Unemployment is at 4.3%.
You might hear people wringing their hands over that number. But when I was in college, if we had 5% unemployment, that was considered full employment for an economy.
4.3% is what economists call "frictional unemployment" – people between jobs and people finding something new. That's actually really good. That's a healthy economy.
Inflation is coming down. Economic growth is solid.
The macro indicators are pointing in the right direction. Not perfect, never perfect, but good.
And when people view the economy as being good, they're more likely to make investments and take some risk.
I've seen too many people spend years waiting for conditions to be just right.
Meanwhile, they're still in the same corporate job. Still dreaming about what business ownership could look like. Still putting off the decision.
If you're waiting for a perfect time, you're never going to get there.
The only question that matters is: Are you going to keep moving forward, or are you going to wait?
Because the people who are building something, who are creating the life and business they want, aren't waiting for perfection. They're working with what's in front of them and making it happen.
I'm not here to tell you that 2026 is some magical year where everything will be easy.
But I am telling you that the conditions are as favorable as they've been in a long time.
The uncertainty has cleared. The economic fundamentals are strong. The path forward is clearer than it's been in years.
If you've been thinking about business ownership, whether that's franchising, starting from scratch, or buying an existing business, this is a good time to stop thinking and start exploring.
Not because conditions are perfect. But because they're good. And because you can control what happens next.
If you've been waiting, what exactly are you waiting for?
More often than not, when people answer that question honestly, they realize the only thing holding them back is the decision to start.
Ready to explore what's possible?
Let's have a conversation about what business ownership could look like for you in 2026. No pressure, no sales pitch—just an honest discussion about your goals and whether franchising might be the right path.
Click here to schedule your call now—spots are filling up fast!
Ever upward!
Keith Liscio
