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, […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Calling All Maine Franchisees & Franchise Owners
Once Again Calling All Maine Franchisees & Franchise Owners All Brands, All Industries are Invited! The Labor Commerce and Economic Development (LCRED) has delayed once again, this time to this Thursday, January 30, 2014. We are very, very, close to getting a Positive Report and moving on to the House and Senate. Show the legislators […]
The IFA is Not Pulling Punches
Yesterday the IFA sent a letter to its members alerting them to the pending doom, and that the sky will fall in Maine if the Labor Commerce and Economic Development Committee votes “ought to pass” on the “5 Principles” of the Maine Small Business Investment Act. They have organized a Town Hall Telephone Call for […]
McDonalds Franchisees Express Discontent in Annual Survey
Fron QSR Magazine Last year, investment management and capital markets firm Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded stock in McDonald’s from a buy to a neutral rating. This type of move is a daily occurrence on Wall Street, but for the fast-food giant, it was another matter. McDonald’s first-quarter results had shown a 1.2 percent decrease in […]
Five Key Principles for the Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act
The Labor, Commerce and Economic Development Committee (LCRED) held a work session yesterday on LD 1458, the Maine Small Business Investment Protection Act. The work session was open to the public, but the Co-Chairs of the Committee decided that comments were not invited from the public, but the committee members and LCRED counsel spoke. There […]