The franchise industry is unique in so many ways, but that is not always good. For most, buying a franchise, next to buying their home, is the biggest investment they will make. Unlike all other investments they make, they risk everything in buying a franchise, every asset they own, and then some. You ask, how […]
What Does It Really Mean to Be Named a ‘Top Franchise’?
Blue MauMau – by Jeffrey M. Goldstein, November 12th, 2018 Franchisors love rankings. Visit any well-known franchisor’s website, and you are bound to see a laundry list of rankings purporting to provide third-party validation of the franchisor’s superiority in its niche, if not in the franchise industry as a whole. Similarly, a Google search for […]
NLRB Chairman Proposes Overhaul of Current Joint Employer Standard
Blue MauMau, by Janet Sparks, September 17th, 2018 Following the National Labor Relations Board administrative judge’s recent decision to reject McDonald’s proposed settlement to resolve all cases that called it a joint employer with its franchisees on labor law violations, the NLRB announced Thursday that it will overhaul the current joint-employer definition. Continue reading on […]
The Franchise Industry, Heavily Regulated? – Shattering the Myth
All of us have heard the argument: franchises are in a heavily regulated industry. Really? This paper will attempt to briefly clarify what is specifically regulated, what isn’t, and is it enough considering those investing in a franchise not only risk their investment, but likely all their assets. We hear the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) […]
DOL Exempts Franchisees from Joint-Employer in Healthcare Plans
Blue MauMau – by Janet Sparks, August 27th, 2018 Among other safeguards, the Department of Labor (DOL) has now issued a ruling that small business owners and franchisees who ban together to form groups under the Association Health Plan to provide low-cost healthcare to their employees will be exempt from joint-employer liability. Continue reading on […]
Do Franchise Owners Really Own a Business?
Do franchise owners really own a business? That is a very important question. The franchise industry talks about franchise owners as independent business people, working for yourself, but not by yourself. But, what does ownership mean? Usually, if you own something, you have value, or equity, that you can sell. Historically, most franchise agreements contained […]
Franchisee Sues for Lack of Fair Dealing, Marriott Settles
BlueMauMau reports that It seems that not all is clean and good at Marriott. CNBC explores the Marriott Empire in its hour-long “Behind the Closed Doors of Marriott.” In the three minute video clip* below, one large franchise owner explains his lawsuit regarding legal traps, bad faith, fraud, breach of contract and hidden rebates to […]
Re/Max Raises Dues for Agents, and Franchisees
Move bolsters the franchisor’s 2 largest revenue streams On Jan. 1, Re/Max increased the annual dues its agents in the U.S. and Canada pay to affiliate with the brand and the monthly per-agent fees affiliated brokerages in U.S. company-owned master franchise regions pay the franchisor. After holding steady at $390 for 2011 through 2013, Re/Max […]
Bill Zolper b.good Franchise Owner in Portland, Maine
Kate Taylor of Entrepreneur.com interviewed Bill Zolper about opening a b.good burger franchise in Portland, Maine. Bill had stopped into burger chain b.good in Boston to grab a quick lunch, he didn’t know how much a bite to eat would change his life. Drawn in by the food and the concept of locally-sourced ingredients, Zolper […]
American Bar “Wizards” Wish for Franchise Law Reform
Janet Sparks at Blue MauMau attended the American Bar Association’s 36th Forum on Franchising, she writes: Not all wizards are known for their magical powers. Some are identified by their skill and knowledge about a particular topic, said Joseph J Fittante, Jr., moderator of this year’s American Bar Association’s 36th Forum on Franchising plenary session, in introducing this year’s […]