Each year, we publish numerous articles designed to help prospective and current franchisees gain insight into the franchise buying and ownership processes. 2018 was no exception. Here are 10 of our top articles from throughout the year:
Top 10: Franchise News and Insights from 2018
1. Franchise Industry Statistics: Most-Popular Industries and Locations
While buying a franchise requires a careful assessment of your personal skills, finances and interests, analyzing trends can also help you make an informed buying decision. We recently took a look at the most-popular franchise industries and the states with the most (and least) franchised businesses.
2. What Is the Universal Franchisee Bill of Rights?
In this post for Blue MauMau, we provided our thoughts on the Universal Franchisee Bill of Rights and discussed some key takeaways for new and exiting franchisees.
3. FDDs, Franchise Agreements and Operations Manuals – What Do Prospective Franchisees Need to Know?
There are three main legal documents that govern the franchise relationship: The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the franchise agreement and the Operations Manual. In this article, we provide an introduction to each and discuss some of their key implications for franchisees.
4. What Does it Mean if My Franchise Agreement Requires “Mandatory Arbitration”?
While arbitration is supposed to provide a level playing field, the reality is that “mandatory arbitration” clauses often heavily favor the franchisor. We explained why in this article from Summer 2018.
5. What Can You Really Hope to Negotiate in Your Franchise Agreement?
When buying a franchise, you need to negotiate the terms of your franchise agreement. But, what can you really hope to negotiate? In this article, we discuss three core provisions that are often the subject of negotiation.
6. What Does it Mean if My State has (or Doesn’t have) a Franchise Law?
Many (but not all) states have franchise laws that provide additional protections to franchisees. But, these protections are often limited, and franchisees must have a clear understanding of when these laws do and don’t apply.
7. Is Franchise Regulation a Myth?
In September, Blue MauMau published an article entitled, “Shattering the Myth: The Franchise Industry Is Heavily Regulated?!?” We provided our thoughts in response, and discussed the difference between a lack of regulation and the lack of a level playing field.
8. An Example of What Not to Look for in a Franchise System
When buying a franchise, knowing what not to look for is just as important as knowing the hallmarks of a successful franchise system. We used the example of one franchise system’s recent downturn to highlight some key risk factors for prospective franchisees.
9. How Can a Franchise Lawyer Help During the Franchise Buying Process?
Along with assessing these and other risk factors, there are a number of other ways that a franchise lawyer can help during the franchise buying process as well. We discussed five benefits of working with an experienced franchise attorney in: How Can a Franchise Lawyer Help During the Franchise Buying Process?
10. What Does It Really Mean to Be Named a “Top Franchise”?
Finally, in another post for Blue MauMau, we took a look at the methodologies behind some of the most well-known franchise rankings providers in order to answer the question, What Does It Really Mean to Be Named a “Top Franchise”?
Is it Time to Speak With a Franchise Attorney?
Are you thinking about buying a franchise? Are you facing a dispute with your franchisor? If so, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To request an appointment with national franchise lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein, please call 202-293-3947 or tell us how we can help online today.
