Section 1: Country Analysis The task at hand is to take an honest look at the likelihood that our Jiffy Lube franchise will be able to establish itself and grow once established in the countries France and United Kingdom. Given the following evidence and details on the current situation in each of these countries along with some information on their economies and overall markets, one should be able to better understand the possibilities that lie within each country. First we'll take a look at France. In recent years in France "franchising" has evolved from a concept to a truly viable economic model. In 2003, for the tenth consecutive year, the number of franchised stores in France increased steadily by 3-5%. In the same year, 55,880 stores were opened in France, of which 34,745 were franchised, an increase from 57.8% in 2002 to 61.2. percent in 2003. In France, during 2003, the number of franchising businesses increased from 719 to 765, an increase of approximately 6.4%. French franchises are also exported with 179 networks located outside France. This shows that the opportunities for a reputable franchise to establish itself in France continue to grow. The general acceptance of American franchises is beneficial when considering how the community will take to opening a store. The automotive sector is a great example of the rise of franchising in France, accounting for 11.2% of franchising in France in 2003, an increase of 10.2. % compared to 2002. Of the 34 French automotive franchising companies, seven (equal to 20.6%) have an international presence. French franchises have not only survived the repeated economic crises of recent years, but have even become economic models in terms of performance and success. It is clear that everyone needs transportation and that transportation must be maintained. The growing automotive market demonstrates positive signs that a facility like Jiffy Lube could win business. There are three main activities in the automotive industry: rental, repair and other services. Of the three, car rental franchises have increased the most. That said, a potential idea could be to partner with some rental facilities and offer them special discounts or service options. We may offer collection and delivery, personalized service or a range of different services to ensure business continuity.