Don Sniegowski Reports at Blue MauMau AUGUSTA, Maine – On Wednesday Maine’s state senate voted against Legislative Document 1458, the Small Business I nvestment Protection Act. In a vote of 24 against and only 10 supporting, the senators essentially killed the current form of the bill. Franchise owners in Maine have complained that their businesses […]
LD 1458 Loses in the Maine Senate
The Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act (LD 1458) was voted down today Nay 25 – Yea 9. Thanks to the Senate for their investigation and consideration of the issue.
Three Stories of Maine Franchise Owners or Franchisors Doing Business in Maine
Three Stories about Quiznos, Coffee News and Dunkin’ Donuts. Quiznos: Maine franchisees of the franchising firm that earlier this month filed for bankruptcy, failed miserably under a broken business model. Some are questioning what detriment there was to their state’s economy. Analyzing the sub sandwich chain’s past franchise disclosure documents shows there was approximately $5.4 […]
Maine’s House Approves Franchisee Protections!
Don Sneigowski of Blue MauMau reports: Maine’s House of Representatives on Monday passed the Small Business Protection Investment Act LD 1458 by a vote of 75 in support and 60 against. Franchise owners in Maine are pushing a law that they say will allow them to better hold onto their business equity. Under the act, […]
Calling All Maine Franchise Owners The Maine House Vote is Today!
The time for action has come. The Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act (LD1458) is scheduled to be voted on by the Maine House of Representatives this morning! We support the Minority Report, Senator Patrick’s amendment to LD1458 to strengthen franchising, not harm or limit it. We all make our living in franchising; damaging it […]
Franchisees Leave Coffee News in Mass Exodus
Don Sniegowski at Blue MauMau reports that Coffee News of Bangor, Maine is experiencing a free fall in the number of its franchise owners. The chain has declined in franchise units by 31 percent from 2008 to 2012, according to its latest Franchise Disclosure Document. Located in 40 states, franchise owners pay $8,500 in upfront […]
Quiznos Goes Bankrupt My Three Observations and One Possible Salvation
Quiznos filed for bankruptcy late last week. Interesting enough the Quiznos franchise chains troubles at a time when similar sandwich franchises like Subway and others seem to be thriving. Serious flaws and seemingly fraudulent practices in the Quiznos’ business model led to the company’s demise. Here are my basic three observations for the chains seemingly […]
Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act (LD1458) Fact Sheet
The Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act (LD1458) has Reported to the Maine House of Representatives. Below is a graphic that depicts the benefits of LD1458 and it’s goal to protect the equity of Mainers that invest in a franchise. Maine franchise owners need these basic protections so they can build, harvest and perpetuate the […]
Failure to Pass Franchise Protections 20 Years Ago Cost Maine More Franchised Units
In 1994, Legislative document 1916, or as some people remember it — The Franchise Practices Act, was shot down by Governor John R. McKernan, Jr. even after it passed both the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate. Leonard Kovit, owner of 5 Meineke’s in Maine and New Hampshire in 1994, remembers the bill […]
Letter from Maine Franchise Owners Chairman Ed Wolak
February 21, 2014 Dear Maine Franchise Owners, I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Maine Franchise Owners Association “MFOA”. We represent Maine franchised small businesses. Most are owned and operated by Maine families. MFOA supports the Minority Report, Senator Patrick’s amendment to LD 1458 to strengthen franchising, not harm or limit it. […]