The International Franchise Association an opponent of franchise-protection legislation argue that franchising is already a “highly regulated industry.” This contention seems highly suspect considering the many blatant stories of franchise abuse by shady companies that violate franchise disclosure laws with impunity, and established franchisors who seem to hold all the cards in the franchise relationship. […]
Universal Franchisee Bill of Rights Makes An Impact
The Universal Franchisee Bill of Rights (UFBOR) was released in August 2011 and to date has over 1,200 franchisees, friends of franchisees, and franchisee associations that have endorsed it. The UFBOR was created by franchisees for franchisees as a fairness doctrine, and the goal was to highlight the imbalance in the relationship between franchisees and […]
The IFA Has No Risk by Claiming “the Sky is Falling” in Maine
Recently the International Franchise Association (IFA) sent out its IFA Insider Newsletter (Vol. 19, Issue No. 47 ) with the following wake-up call to franchisors “next month the Maine legislature will address LD 1458 (Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act), the most far-reaching and harmful franchise relationship legislation in any state in the country”. They […]
ABA Legal Wizard Abrams Asks for Good Faith in Franchise Law Reform
Enact State and Federal Good Faith & Fair Dealing laws to overrule devious franchise contract provisions. Janet Sparks writes at Blue MauMau that franchisee attorney Lee Abrams had no problem playing along with last year’s American Bar Association Forum on Franchising’s theme in its plenary session, “If I Had a Wizard’s Wand,” expressing his wish […]
Maine Source of Frustration. Maine Franchise Owners Associations Seeks Anecdotes of Franchise Owner Troubles
Many Maine residents have found both a profitable living and vibrant job creation for their region via an investment in a franchise system. Others have been less fortunate – facing financial ruin from a franchise model that either did not work or a franchisor that didn’t care. Franchise failure often leads to financial ruin, loss […]
First Annual Maine Franchise Owners Franchise Business Day and Legislators Meet & Greet set for January 29th
The Maine franchise owner community is invited to attend the First Annual Maine Franchise Owners Franchise Business Day and Legislators Forum on January 29, 2014. The event will begin at 1 p.m with the “Franchise Business Day” forum to share timely information, best practices and resources for Maine franchise owners. A Franchise Owner and Legislators […]
What Franchisees Could Lose If the Minimum Wage Is Raised
Fast-food workers in about 100 cities will strike on Thursday, leaving franchisees caught between a rock and a hard place. Protesters are calling for $15 an hour — a huge increase from the current federal minimum wage of $7.25, or a full-time salary of about $15,000 a year. The upcoming strikes follow the protests that […]
Maine Franchise Owners Association Joins the Coalition of Franchisee Associations
Washington, D.C. (Dec 3, 2013) — The Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA) extends a warm welcome to its newest member, the Maine Franchise Owners Association. With the latest addition, the CFA now represents 19 associations, whose members include 34,000 franchisees who own more than 80,000 businesses and employ more than 1.4 million individuals. “We are […]
The Need for Voiding Out State Venue Clauses for Franchise Owners
Peter Lagarias posted at BlueMauMau a very compelling argument as why it’s important to pass legislation in each state to void litigation forum/venue clauses and allow litigation or dispute resolution in occur in the State the franchise owner has his/her business. Here are is an excerpt: Most franchise agreements provide for venue of franchise lawsuits […]
Maine Franchise Owners Association Holds Open House in Portland
On Wednesday, November 6th, 2013 at the offices of the Maine Franchise Owners Association (MFOA), various franchise owners, vendors, and government officials attended the MFOA open house in Portland. MFOA is an independent organization of franchise owners in Maine that is committed to helping franchise owners grow, expand, and create more jobs for the citizens […]