Licensing vs. Biz Op vs. Franchise...

I've been looking at these three things for a while online and off.

There never seems to be a solid consensus as to which fits for an online business.

Here is what I'm wanting to do for my business model with a new start up:

• Have a national brand across Canada & the USA.
• Have territories for "local marketers" to acquire new clients and customers
• These territories for $XX.xx dollars a year
• Plus a % cut to my company

My company will in turn offer:

• Use of brand name and logo
• Stationary templates
• POS Templates
• Handle transaction fees ( 2% - 6% dependent on volumes)
• Pay out weekly earnings
• Handle affiliate commissions
• Handle Support for marketers/ clients & customers
• Training
• R&D

Now a lot of people have suggested licensing and I can see this being very effective as I'm looking at a "Lease" of sorts per territory each year and taking a percentage.


But there have been even more people saying that because I offer training, use of a brand name etc.. I have to go with franchising.


Then there is the Biz Op avenue but I'm looking at more than $500 one time fee with the yearly and percentage fees. Which then again throws back to the license vs. franchise.


In my research I've even come across a yogurt chain that claims to not be a franchise but a license agreement which blows my mind as it fits everything about a franchise.


I digress.


Now I have an new thought, to me anyways, maybe not to many out there.


I was thinking about"Area Partner" agreements for each territory and that way I should be able to charge the yearly fee and the percentage. Then I would just have to state the value of their partnership is ever changing as new area partners come on and grow the company. Thus changing each partners % of the company while in some way I always maintain a minimum 51% controlling interest with out getting into shares.



How does this sound?


Is it viable?


Is it legal even?


Any suggestions?


I thank everyone in advance!