The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and encouraging this unethical behavior thru their disclosure rule on franchisors. Competition in the market place is far more competitive and the stakes are high enough that Over Disclosure Regulatory Rules cause competition to take the advantage and cheat. And before you say I am off base on these comments, let me tell you that 20% of every single inquiry to buy our franchise comes from a competitor. That's right 20%.
So with 70% misrepresenting themselves on applications (consumers often lie about their financial where with all) and 20% being competitors, that leaves 10%. Only one in ten is actually a possibility of becoming a franchise buyer and then they have to like us. One in ten is not a good ratio. That would mean out of twenty inquiries that we contact and talk to we would send out 18 UFOC franchise disclosure documents in vain at a cost of $8.00 or $144.00. That is not cost effective for a small franchisor and it when multiplied times ten is not cost-effective for large ones either. Please, oh brilliant grand Pooba, at the Federal Trade Commission enlighten us as to how this is so darn "cost-effective" will you? After all this is what they proclaimed in the most recent franchise regulatory report on the franchising industry.
Well the current franchisees, the consumers pay for it in the market place due to competitive information leakage and we as franchisors pay for it in real time lost and $144.00 per 20 leads. For our company that is times five per week or $720.00 per week and over a year you just added $37,440.00, and just think we are only getting 100 leads a week, what about those who spend a lot in advertising their franchises, what are their costs? And here is one for the Liberals out there reading this who want to save the planet by stifling the free enterprise that our ancestors died to protect and give you the standard of living you now have. Our franchise agreement and UFOC with attachments was 115 plus pages in 1995, some were 235 pages at that time. Other franchisors have larger documents. Companies like Dwyer, Grow Biz, Service Master, etc., have over 280 pages with all the disclosures and attachments.
So how many trees are we going to cut down to disclose people who are not even legitimate, do not have the money, are simply looking for free information to attack their competitors? Yes we can cut down the number by further scrutinizing the buyers, who are more and more reluctant to give out personal information in the first place because of the Federal Trade Commission's failure to curb identity theft. If you think my figures are too high you are wrong because long about June 2002 the United States Post Office is raised rates and there is talk they are going to raise them again in 2005? Why? Because people are using SPAM instead (which is costing American Business 35 Billion a year in lost productivity, wake-up FTC), because the Federal Trade Commission has not been able to stop it and therefore the junk mail or commercial mail that pays the bills at the USPS is dwindling. Did you know that $37,000 pays for our entire annual meeting for our franchisees, yet this over disclosure you call cost-effective is eating up real profits and monies we could use helping our franchisees.
Where will I as an entrepreneur cut costs to cover this increase in paperwork that the added pages in the UFOC will need when the Federal Trade Commission enacts these additional rules? Hmm? How nice of the Federal Trade Commission comment on my costs and the cost-effectiveness of the insanity of over disclosure? How dare they copy the comments of Lawyers who specializing in suing franchisors as factual, this shows how out of touch our regulatory bodies are and it is unforgivable and unacceptable, we need to take these disclosure laws back to the drawing board. These current disclosure laws and this trend is a plague against America, which more resembles a Smallpox laced Ebola virus than anything else.
The Federal Trade Commission needs to think on these things before making any more laws or franchise rules.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
disinfecting cleaning services Buffalo Grove ..Auto detailers are often asked to clean boats and detail... Read More
Until the day I learned to play chess I loved... Read More
When you awoke this morning, you found yourself buzzing with... Read More
Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business?... Read More
And is having a logo really that important?My answer to... Read More
That sizzling sound you're hearing may be a symptom of... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
So often small service businesses fail to exploit niches, which... Read More
Some of the very qualities that attract people to the... Read More
One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More
Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
It appears the mini-blimp indoor theme and concept is making... Read More
How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More
There are many little details that go into making sure... Read More
The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More
What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant /... Read More
Running a business, whether large, small or in your home,... Read More
If you're starting your own business or currently work for... Read More
Tap these treasures of ideas. The best money you can... Read More
Manufactured and Mobile Home owners know that the weather this... Read More
You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem... Read More
Unfortunately for all buyers, each selling organization and their individual... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
Doesn't it frustrate you when you've given good service, sometimes... Read More
spotless home service Arlington Heights ..You bet it's worth it. Publicity via news releases, along... Read More
Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on... Read More
One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
Franchisors of home based and mobile businesses need to carefully... Read More
The way you manage your money is one of the... Read More
Owning a small business in Wichita, KS might not be... Read More
Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the... Read More
When a regulator finds a target to go after to... Read More
The key to organizational focus and helping those who need... Read More
Why should you describe your business to others in 5... Read More
Business card size works well for invitations to special events.What... Read More
When starting a business, you have to determine the method... Read More
The easiest way to lift profits is to cut the... Read More
You know your prospects need what you sell. You know... Read More
For the employees, payday is the brightest day; they finally... Read More
Have Some Time to Yourself One of the most important... Read More
When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More
If you plan to upgrade your workshop into an Authorized... Read More
Many new ventures are preoccupied with all the money they... Read More
Paul Leonard's BirthdayCards2Go.com paid greeting card service offers convenience when... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
Small Business |