New Franchisors and Entrepreneurs need to watch out as they enter into the world of franchising. What advice can I give to a new franchisor, I was asked today by another entrepreneur with a wonderful new concept; what are the tiger traps that lay ahead?
So you are a new franchisor? Who can you trust? Can you trust FranData? The Industry's information source was thought to be a friend, is it? Well they can get you on a list so that SBA Loans for your new franchisees go smoothly. But after you send them your UFOC, which you most likely paid some $35,000 to an over paid boilerplate bandit attorney to create, they will turn around and sell it to your competitors. See for yourself:
https://www.frandata.com/frandata/cart/prod_IR.aspx?screenwidth=800
And if you choose to give out earning claims to prospective buyers, based on current franchisees sales, then they too will sell this to all your competitors also, both non-franchise competition and franchise competition which may have stores nearby or even next door to your current franchisees, thus putting your franchisees at a disadvantage as well as your own growth in the market. Remember the key to franchising growth is watch the cash and build brand name:
http://www.frandata.com/productofmonth.aspx?screenwidth=800
This is our wonderful Franchise disclosure laws at work, taking the small entrepreneur's information and life's work and selling it to your larger competitors who do not want you in business at all. Our government seems to think this helps consumers? Well it helps competitors put you out of business, so watch out. It helps competitors destroy your franchisees and therefore hurts those franchise buyer consumers. And even worse to the parent company, the franchisor, by giving information which is available to overseas competitors who want to know exactly how well your units perform so they can compete with you head to head in all of the other non-US markets? Great? Do you think for one minute that those overseas governments would make their companies give data that we could get? I don't think so.
We in the United States are continuously put at a competitive disadvantage in this country by government mandatory disclosure and FranData wants to get your data out faster to those same competitors and makes money doing so. This is how FranData can help your business grow? Give me a break. In 1997 at the annual IFA conference in Las Vegas, I met the former owner of FranData who was able to make a deal with the SBA to develop a registry. He was a black guy and I can only assume his minority status was used to get him this exclusive coup. Must be nice to be a minority and do government contracts. Then he started collecting UFOCs, Financial data, franchise profiles and then started selling these to attorneys who may wish to sue these companies and or call up all your new franchisees and ask them to join in a class action law suit. And to your competitors. FranData's Rational for doing this? They say it is public data, anyone can get it. That is not entirely correct, not just anyone can get it, especially if you are smart enough to fly under the radar a little. There are strategies for this and it is advised. Now then any foreign competitor in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Australia, Europe, UK, Middle East (great possible International Terrorists can buy data from FranData, is this true?), Canada, etc. can find out everything about your company. Everyone knows these UFOCs contain more data than anything on your company computer or in your trashcan. I got a call from FranData, which has been bought by National Cooperative Bank;
http://www.ncb.coop/
Great now we have a bank, which funds your competitor's franchisees, which has all your data on your new franchise to sell to your competitors. In this phone call the caller said that they could help our franchise company with publicity? Well, luckily we need no publicity:
http://www.carwashguys.com/innews.html and
http://www.carwashguys.com/history/museum1.shtml
The caller purported to be working on setting up a 50 Fastest Growing New Franchise Concepts for Franchise times:
http://www.franchisetimes.com/
Which is an industry newspaper, which is rarely read by the potential consumer franchise buyers, but rather your Competitors also. The Franchise Times has come and gone. Stops printing for a while and is then revived. It seems as a new franchisor you must guard your data and business model with passion or you will find all your trade secrets printed in national magazines and your corporate data in the hands of competitors who will go to any length to attack your company and your new franchisees. Think on this.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
scheduled maid service Northbrook ..Debt collection letters--an overview"Debt collection letter" in the singular may... Read More
Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring... Read More
Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More
In this series of articles I'm going to show you... Read More
All cities have a purchasing office and/or a procurement officer.... Read More
If you're organized, smart, capable and willing to work with... Read More
Car wash businesses are unique to other businesses. In fact... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
We all know that competition is an ugly word but... Read More
Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse... Read More
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk,... Read More
Before you read any further in this article, I'd like... Read More
At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive,... Read More
By outsourcing to skilled professionals you'll be able to grow... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
We were more than excited. Our women's doubles tennis team... Read More
Every home business has the same problem of how to... Read More
I frequently give presentations at small business gatherings, providing me... Read More
You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses... Read More
In your small business debt collection laws will eventually become... Read More
If you're like me, you love accounting. It's so fascinating... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More
Until the day I learned to play chess I loved... Read More
reliable maid service Highland Park ..There are many choices when thinking about a small business... Read More
Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I... Read More
If you are in the professional car care business you... Read More
If you are thinking of turning your current into a... Read More
There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that... Read More
How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More
The American system of business management has been admired and... Read More
What is Business Valuation? The term business valuation is the... Read More
What is the Big Race all about when it comes... Read More
Traditional advertising methods are still being used for almost 90%... Read More
What is a guru?A guru is a teacher. A mentor.... Read More
If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard... Read More
The revenue history is a vital piece of your power... Read More
Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way... Read More
A cluttered world of marketing communications diminishes the ordinary. The... Read More
It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How... Read More
Every company has business pain, but the pain does not... Read More
Technical writing services are employed to explain the details of... Read More
Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy... Read More
Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
Why would you use an event pass?Event passes are often... Read More
With all the cabinet refacing business opportunities out there, you... Read More
How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what... Read More
Small Business |