Hidden in the gray cloud that loomed over us in 2020 is a silver lining for franchise buyers in 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of all new businesses don’t make it past the first year, and by the end of five years, only about 50% are still operating. But those numbers are a whole lot different when you section off franchise startups. Surprisingly, franchise sales are weathering the storm, even as we head into a New Year of uncertainty. People fear that unemployment might be in their future, and are switching gears to find more security and freedom in their career path. If you are ready to carve out a bit of employment stability for yourself, these are three trends to watch for when considering buying a franchise in the upcoming year.