Home
>
Small Business
>
Dispute Resolution; Competing With Other Franchisees

Dispute Resolution; Competing With Other Franchisees

If you are in a franchise and have a territory dispute with another franchisee you need to prevent a lawsuit use dispute resolution techniques to resolve the dispute. Competing with other franchisees is a subject that franchisors would prefer not to need to talk about. This is a real problem for some types of franchises. For instance mobile service businesses and home based franchises.

There is really no reason for you to sneak into fellow franchisees' territory to market or to do services. There is plenty of work in your territory. Some franchisees may disagree and say:

"Jim got a better territory than I did, that is not fair."

This may or may not be true, but you did agree to your franchise and you should have the ethical standards as a human being to live up to that agreement, not run to your lawyer or cheat the system. The integrity of the system to survive needs honest team members, unlike the rat pack primate politics in government where ethical standards means only getting blown off once a day by a male homosexual lobbyist. In franchising if the brand name is strong and you are doing well by your customers; actually all territories are good and your market mix should provide you with enough different kinds of services that you can make a substantial dollar amount in your city or township.

If your home territory consists of a small town, your exclusive territory may be a combination of towns, a county or an entire region. As I study the franchise agreements of the top franchise service companies and home based franchisors it is apparent that there is business everywhere.

Let's take the franchise company I run for instance; The Car Wash Guys, a mobile pressure washing and car washing franchise system. Our franchisees can wash mobile homes in a less high-income area. More depressed areas house larger trucking company fleets because the land is cheaper. This is why trucking companies that need acres of land to park trucks and thousands of square feet of warehouse space locate in these areas. So you may actually make more money in a low-income area then someone that has an exclusive franchise in let us say, Beverly Hills, CA, Malibu, CA, Long Island NY, or Naples, FL franchise. It is not always necessary to have an area with a high-income level population or an area whose work force drives expensive types of cars in this case as many potential franchise candidates usually assume. In any franchise system you should look at the total income potential of your exclusive territory before signing the franchise agreement because you might actually make more money in a town that has a depressed economy but has a larger commercial base clientele.

Competing with other franchisees is really not a way to level the playing field. All that will do is create animosity when you are caught and make the other franchisees mad at you, that is true in all the case law studies and franchisors I have discussed this with. You do not need an ambulance chasing attorney to figure that one out or tell you that you can have permission to use the restroom in your own business for that matter.

If you make the other franchisees in a franchise system mad at you, the chances of them referring additional accounts to you will be less and less. So remember, competing with your own team is not a game you want to play. Instead you want to stand strong and united. Play to win, play on the team to win. Play in your area in a zoned defense pattern. It is not every man for him self; it is a zoned defense team effort. Your competitors may cross boundaries. They may compete with you one day, Jim, Brett, Bill or Will or Steve or Brian the next. This makes it extremely hard on your competitors and likewise it would be extremely hard for you to compete with all the people I just mentioned on your own chasing them around the county trying to service everyone.

Instead you want to use them as a source and a point of power for generating leads and additional references. And contact names of people who work in these larger companies so you do more services and make a better return. Thus make more money and buy more service units and expand in your territory until you hit your market penetration peak. This target could be very high and hopefully is. If you are in a franchise system work it like a team and keep the lawyers away from the seam, they want to break in and destroy you American Dream. Think about resolving territorial issues and disputes before they happen.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs

green cleaning service Glencoe ..

In The News:

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Dispute Resolution; Competing With Other Franchisees

Small Business