Analysis - Lack of Know-How, Cost Misconceptions Stall Franchise Business in Serbia, Macedonia Lags Further Behind - Industry Officials

BELGRADE (Serbia)/SKOPJE (Macedonia), August 28 (SeeNews) - The biggest obstacles to the further expansion of franchising in Serbia are a lack of know-how and widespread misconceptions about start-up and operating costs, while in its Balkan neighbour Macedonia, this burgeoning industry faces even bigger setbacks, industry officials said. "People don't realise the difference between the general way of doing business and running a franchise. Many are under the assumption that running a franchise is running a representative office of some foreign firm," the Development Director of the Belgrade-based franchise of charge card company Diners Club International, Dusan Sikimic, told SeeNews in a recent interview.