Thank you QSR Magazine and Sam Danley for the article and the quotes. The lack of transparency surrounding undisclosed fees is causing friction in the franchising world. See full article here.
Thank you Matthew Liedke at Franchise Times for the article. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers is tracking several bills in state and federal legislative chambers. In some cases, the AAFD is supporting legislation and in others wants to see sections removed. The full story can be found here.
Thank you Matthew Liedke at Franchise Times for the article. Two years after a similar bill stalled, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, reintroduced legislation giving franchisees more rights to take action against franchisors. On December 5, Schakowsky brought forward the Franchisee Freedom Act. If enacted, the bill would grant franchisees a private right of action …
Bill to Give Franchisees Private Right of Action Reintroduced in CongressRead More »
Thank you Matthew Liedke at Franchise Times for this article. A recently signed California labor bill has some franchisees on edge, even after compromises were made during negotiations with restaurant industry officials. For franchisee advocates, those negotiations simply lacked enough input from owners. The full article can be found here.
Thank you Matthew Liedke and Franchise Times for the article. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission late last week expanded its ongoing assessment of franchising, with another request for public comment. On March 10, the FTC announced it was seeking feedback on franchise agreements and franchisor business practices, including how franchisors exert control over franchisees and …
Franchise Times – Franchise Industry Weighs In on FTC’s Request for CommentRead More »
Thank you Beth Ewen at Franchise Times for this article. Supporters and critics alike are watching a bill moving through the U.S. House to provide a private right of action for people harmed by violations of the FTC’s Franchise Rule. This means individuals could sue regardless of the state they live in. You can find …
Franchise Times – Private Right of Action Bill Draws Support & CriticismRead More »
Thank you Franchise Times and Beth Ewen for the article and the quotes. It’s time the Federal Trade Commission takes a serious look at the franchise industry, not just the current Franchise Rule, but the ongoing relationship period. Government oversight is often needed to protect fair and free markets. See full article here.
The Hill, By Lexi Lonas – 09/29/21 10:19 AM EDT The National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), along with another group, is calling for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the convenience store giant and several other companies due to their franchising practices. The NCASEF, with Franchisee Advocacy Consulting, filed the petition with …
The Hill Article – 7-Eleven Franchisees Call for InvestigationRead More »
Thank you Nicholas Upton and Franchise Times for this article. In what may go down as a landmark report for the industry, U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada called out some systemic issues in franchising. The 87-page report, “Strategies to Improve the Franchise Model: Preventing Unfair and Deceptive Franchise Practices,” covers a lot of …
Franchise Times – ‘Unfair’ Franchise Practices Are Focus of Sen. Cortez Masto’s ReportRead More »
Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rohit Chopra was interviewed on CNBC on September 25, 2020, where he discussed his thoughts on the franchise industry. You can find the CBNC interview can be found here.
United States Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Pramila Jayapal sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission concerning unfair and deceptive digital delivery food practices that hurt small business restaurants. In addition, and most important to the franchise industry, the letter also called out the franchisor/franchisee relationship for being “underinvestigated” by the FTC. …
Roll Call, By Jim Saksa, Posted July 1, 2020 at 6:56pm Roll Call article that includes my quotes on PPP and the need for additional PPP. Article can be found here. Additional comments: Franchised industries such as lodging, personal care, fitness, restaurants and bars, and others have been severely impacted, and many need immediate help past …
Roll Call – House clears bill to extend loan program for small businessRead More »
Thank you Franchise Times and Beth Ewen for the article and the quotes. And thank you Senator Cortez Masto (NV) for the letter to the FTC. Obviously, I, and many franchisees, don’t see this as a “political stunt”, and that franchisors have been “giving so much at great expense”. See full article here.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) has once again supported protections for franchisees by sending a letter to the Federal Trade Commission expressing her concerns with disclosure and franchisor behavior in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Franchisee Advocacy Consulting worked closely with the Senator and her staff on these issues and the concerns of the impacts …
Senator Coretz Masto (NV) Sends Letter to FTC Concerning Covid-19 IssuesRead More »
**** Press Release **** April 13, 2020 RE: Fair Franchising Initiative Announces Keith Miller of Franchisee Advocacy Consulting as Director of Legislative Affairs Contact: Prakash Shah, FFI President, firstgrwth@aol.com, (908) 267-5021 Fair Franchising Initiative (FFI) is pleased to announce the engagement of Franchisee Advocacy Consulting (FAC) to provide legislative consultancy services to FFI. …
Fair Franchising Initiative Engages Franchisee Advocacy ConsultingRead More »
On November 18, 2019, Keith Miller testified at an information hearing at the Oregon Capitol on the franchise industry, held by the House Interim Committee On Business and Labor. The entire hearing can be seen here. My section starts at 6:00.
Written by: AAFD OCT 1, 2019: SAN DIEGO, CA – The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) has announced the engagement of Franchisee Advocacy Consulting (FAC) to provide political consultancy services to the AAFD. Importantly, FAC’s Principal, Keith Miller, has accepted the role as the AAFD’s Director of Public Affairs and Engagement. See full …
AAFD Names Keith Miller as Director of Public Affairs and EngagementRead More »
Despite Churn, Franchises Continue to Sell Written by Keith R. Miller Once again, I am reporting on the very high churn rate for Dickey’s BBQ, yet the brand continues to sell a high number of franchises. Why? Do prospective franchisees not understand the numbers in the Franchise Disclosure Document? And, why is the government …
Bust Say Many Franchisees Over the past few years, Burgerim is one of the top franchise performers in growth, units opened, and franchise sold. While that has been great for the franchisor, how have the franchisees performed? First, let’s look at some numbers from their Franchise Disclosure Document dated April 3, 2019[i], for the …
Today, July 31, 2019, Senator Cortez Masto (NV) introduced S.2383, The Small Business Administration Franchise Loan Transparency Act of 2019. I personally want to thank the Senator and her staff for their efforts to protect franchisee interests. You can read her press release here. For my testimony in advance of this legislation being introduced, watch …
Senator Cortez Masto Introduces SBA Franchise Loan Transparency ActRead More »
On July 17, 2019, Keith Miller, Principal, Franchisee Advocacy Consulting, testified at the United States Senate Banking, Subcommittee on Economic Policy hearing titled, “Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream in Crisis?” I discussed some of the obstacles in franchising that hamper the efforts to realize the American Dream, concentrating on the lack of financial transparency …
Keith Miller Testifies at United States Senate Banking Subcommittee HearingRead More »
March 26, 2019 – Today, franchise owners of Max Muscle® Nutrition have announced the formation of Max Independent Franchise Owners Association (MaxIFOA, Inc.), a self-funded alliance to represent their interests with the South Dakota-based company. The organization, while working with Max Muscle Nutrition®, will be a unifying voice of franchisees, focusing on franchisee profitability while …
Max Muscle® Franchise Owners form Independent AssociationRead More »
Written by Keith R. Miller 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 …
Liquidated Damages Clauses – Franchising’s Unethical HammerRead More »
Written by Keith R. Miller Franchise owners of Dickey’s BBQ are closing at an alarming rate. Why is this, and can a franchise owner really make a profit owning a Dickey’s BBQ? Despite this, up to now, the franchisor has continued to sell a high number of new franchises. Can they continue that pace and …
Written by Keith R. Miller It’s not easy to forget the Quizno’s saga. Once one of the darlings of the franchise industry, growing through franchising to nearly 5,000 locations, but today, just under 400 in the United States. Many franchisees lost everything (investments, savings, their home), and as stores closed, eventually the franchisor filed for …
Is Dickey’s BBQ Franchising’s Next Quizno’s? 28% Systemwide ChurnRead More »
Nice article by Janet Sparks. See my quote at the end of the article. Blue MauMau – by Janet Sparks, August 29th, 2018 The long-awaited decision from the National Labor Relations Board finally came last month when the NLRB judge issued her decision rejecting proposed settlement agreements from McDonald’s Corporation [NYSE:MCD] surrounding claims by fast …
NLRB Rejects McDonald’s Settlement Deal in Joint Employer CaseRead More »
I have just learned of and am deeply saddened by Senator John McCain’s passing. I have had the honor of meeting and talking to the Senator a few times over the last decade. Every time, my interactions with him, enforced my belief that he was an honorable man, who also was approachable and personable. In …
Written by Keith R. Miller As franchise owners, we all sign franchise agreements that set the terms and conditions of our business, and the relationship with our franchisor. Most of those franchise agreements contain a condition that you will follow the then current Operations Manual. While it is understandable that the Ops Manual must change, …
Franchisees, Is Your Operations Manual Changing Your Franchise Agreement?Read More »
Article by Eddie Goldberg, Franchise Media Update, January 24, 2017 When the IRS proposes a rule changing the valuation of interests in closely held businesses, it’s bad for franchisees. Multi-unit franchisees were well represented among the more than 8,000 written responses to the proposed change. And on December 1, among the nearly 40 citizens who …