When you write a column like this one, you get lots of e-mails from public relations firms talking up their clients who offer services and "resources" to business owners.  Most of them are "ho hum, same old, same old" - companies offering employee benefits, information technology services, and the like, with little that is new, exciting or innovative.

But every once in a while a company comes along that "kicks it up a notch" and leverages the awesome power of the Internet to solve some long-standing problems for entrepreneurs.  Here are two cool new Websites, launched just this week, that you should know more about.

Are you thinking about buying a franchise?  Are you worried that you will not find the right "fit" with your skills and interests?  Are you afraid of dealing with franchise brokers because they deal only with a limited number of franchises and you are concerned they will try wherever possible to fit your "square peg" into one of the "round holes" they have available?  Then you should check out www.ezmatchfranchising.com - a new website that uses behavioral matching technology to match entrepreneurs with the franchise of their dreams.

Frankly, you should be doing this ALL the time, but especially now you need to worship your customers. Offer them a little something for participating in a telephone survey and they'll probably give you an earful. Oh, and if they're telling you they want something new and different from your business, say "yes" and start offering it . . . whatever it may be.

"We intend to do for franchising what eHarmony.com and other dating sites have done for couples," says Chris Delaney, CFO of EZMatchfranchising.com, explaining that "we are the only website that provides a behavioral assessment questionnaire specifically designed to help some 20 million adults annually who seek to find a franchise."

There are franchise portals on the Web, of course, but most of these are merely directories of franchises organized by product or service type.  So, for example, if you love ice cream, you may think you are a good fit for an ice cream franchise.  By looking at these other websites you can find a list of franchises that specialize in ice cream.

But Delaney points out that an ice cream business may be a terrible choice for you: "how do you feel about working seven days a week, supervising minimum wage employees with a 60% turnover rate each year, and starving during the winter months?  That's what an ice cream business is all about."

While ezmatchfranchising.com offers a traditional franchise directory for those who know what they're looking for, it also offers a behavioral assessment survey for those who don't.  You fill out the "personality report" (it's free) describing your interests and skills, as well as answering questions such as "do you mind working weekends?" and "do you prefer working alone?".  Delaney says the process takes about ten to fifteen minutes on average.

When you hit the "send" button, up to 10 franchises pop up that meet the criteria you specified in the survey.  You can then click through to look at a longer one page description of each franchise.  Your information is automatically sent to the franchise, which will contact you via e-mail to continue the discussions.

The site currently does not charge either franchises or prospective franchise buyers for using the site, although there is a small charge to franchises for forwarded leads.  "The franchise industry's number one complaint is poor lead quality," says Delaney.  "By scientifically matching prospective franchisees with models that fit their personalities, both parties will be more productive and efficient."

In another first for the franchise industry, EZMatchfranchising.com will introduce state of the art video presentations designed to enhance a franchise's image.  Videos will also allow prospects a way to "see and feel" an organization as part of their selection process.