Bruce Kennedy, Benzinga Staff Writer reports that the recent Chapter 11 filings of two national restaurant chains, Sbarro and Quiznos, are drawing new focus on the opportunities and challenges faced by franchises. U.S. Census Bureau data from 2007 showed franchise businesses employed over 58 million U.S. residents, while bringing in revenues, sales, shipments or receipts of over $7.6 billion. And […]
Support Maine franchise owners with these four basic protections
Ed Wolak, Chairman of the Maine Franchise Owners Association contributed the following letter to Bangor Daily News and it ran in the paper and online today March 11, 2014. By Ed Wolak, Special to the BDN Posted March 10, 2014, at 11:47 a.m. Last modified March 10, 2014, at 12:07 p.m. BDN The Maine Small Business Investment Protection […]
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 […]
Franchised Units Increase in Iowa 300% More than Adjacent States
The graphic below compares the growth of franchised Units in Iowa from 2004- 2007 to adjacent states and the nation. In 1994 Iowa passed a Franchise Practices act, the reaction from the IFA and Franchisors was to boycott Iowa, in an effort to show other states what could happen if you pass a Franchise Practice […]
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 […]
7-ELEVEN Aggressively Seizes Franchisee Equity
Unhappyfranchisee.com has been covering the aggressive tactics of 7-11 Corporation in seizing the assets of its franchisees. The story of the Patels from Riverside, California who lost their store after 19 years of operation, stands out, mostly because of the reaction from the Riverside Community in protesting 7-11 seizure of the Patels 7-11 franchise. SIGN […]
Franchisee Protections Exist Across the Maine Border in Canada
Five provinces in Canada have passed franchise disclosure and fair franchise relationship laws: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. British Columbia is also considering franchise disclosure and franchise relationship legislation. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires the use of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) in all 50 states […]
Well Attended Maine Franchise Owners Business Day and Legislative Meet
On Wednesday, January 29th, over 40 franchise owners met at The Senator Inn in Augusta to share best practices, and learn about various resources for Maine franchise owners. Four impressive and informative speakers headlined the afternoon. Jim Coen, Executive Director of Maine Franchise Owners Association (MFOA) spoke about the importance of organizing franchise owners in […]
William Whipple of Kittery Reads the Franchisee Bill of Rights
A lively William Whipple joined Maine franchise Owners, and legislators from all across the state to read the Universal Franchisee Bill of Rights (UFBOR) on Wednesday, January 29th at the Senator Inn in Augusta. Whipple was born January 14, 1730 in Kittery, Maine. By the late 1750’s, he was heavily involved in the Patriot movement, […]
Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act Moves on to the House!
LD 1458 was reported out of committee by five Democrats. The Maine Franchise Owners Association is pleased that The Maine Small Business Protection Act (LD 1458) will move on to the house. The final vote of the Labor, Commerce and Economic Development Committee was as follows: Voting for Ought to Pass for Senator Patrick’s Amended […]