Monthly Archives: May 2018

What Can You Expect During the Franchise Application Process?

May 31, 2018 - Blog by |

With most franchise systems, when you want to buy a franchise, you need to go through an application process. Franchisors use this process to gather as much information as possible about prospective franchisees, which they then use to weed out undesirable candidates. If you are thinking about buying a franchise, knowing what to expect can help the application process go more smoothly, and being prepared can increase your chances of submitting a successful application. What Do Franchisors Look for in Franchise Candidates? While some franchise systems have more-rigorous screening procedures than others, generally speaking, franchisors will rely on the following types of information when evaluating franchise candidates: 1. Education, Employment and Business Experience Franchisors will typically ask for information about prospective franchisees’ education, employment history and prior business experience, if any. While franchisors often expect their franchisees to be first-time business owners, having a business background can make you a more-attractive candidate (in addition to potentially increasing your chances of success as a franchisee). 2. Background Check Most franchisors will conduct criminal background checks as well. If you have a criminal record, it may be best to be up front about it with the franchisor and proactively address any concerns you have run into in previous situations. 3. Financial Documentation Whether you will be financing your franchise yourself or relying on funding from a bank, family member or private investor, you can expect the franchisor to request plenty of documentation about your source(s) of capital. Inadequate capitalization is among the […]

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What Do Food Franchisees Need to Know about the New Menu Labeling Law?

May 25, 2018 - Blog by |

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) long-anticipated menu labeling requirements went into effect on May 7, 2018. These requirements apply to predominantly to restaurant franchisees. As explained by the FDA: “The menu labeling requirements apply to restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations. In addition, they must be doing business under the same name and offering for sale substantially the same menu items.” So, if you own a restaurant franchise in a system with 20 or more outlets, you are likely subject to the new menu labeling law. What do you need to know? Franchisee Compliance with the FDA’s New Menu Labeling Requirements 1. The New Menu Labeling Law is Already Effective First, May 7, 2018 was the compliance date for restaurant owners to adopt the new labeling requirements. If you are subject to the law and you have not yet updated your menus, you should consult with an attorney about coming into compliance promptly. 2. The Law Applies to More than Just “Restaurants” The new labeling law applies to “restaurants and similar retail food establishments.” As explained by the FDA, this means that the law applies to all types of food service businesses. This includes: Bakeries Cafeterias Coffee shops Convenience stores Food delivery and take-out businesses Food service locations in amusement parks and other entertainment venues Full-service restaurants Grocery stores Quick-service restaurants Specialty food stores 3. As a Franchisee, it is Up to You to Comply As a franchisee, […]

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Restaurant Franchisees Win $8.8 Million Jury Verdict for Encroachment

May 23, 2018 - Blog by |

As a franchisee, encroachment by the franchisor or another franchisee can be among the greatest risks to long-term sustainability. If would-be customers (most of whom do not understand independent franchise ownership) have access to your brand at a more-convenient location, they will have little incentive to visit your store or restaurant. As a result, territorial protections are among the most-important protections available to franchisees, and state franchise relationship laws often provide critical protections when disputes regarding encroachment arise. A recent successful lawsuit filed by El Pollo Loco franchisees in California state court illustrates the types of protections that are available to franchisees in cases of encroachment: California Jury Rules in Favor of Husband-and-Wife Franchisee The case involved a dispute between husband-and-wife franchisees Michael and Janice Bryman and restaurant franchisor El Pollo Loco Inc. According to news reports, the Brymans sued after their franchisor opened two new locations within their territory. El Pollo Loco Inc. apparently did so in reliance on a standard provision in their franchise agreement which stated that it had the right to place company-owned locations “in the immediate vicinity of or adjacent to” its franchisees’ outlets, the franchisee’s territorial rights notwithstanding. Critically, prior to the jury verdict on damages, the trial judge ruled that this provision of the franchise agreement was unconscionable as a matter of law. As such, it was unenforceable, and could not be used to justify the opening of two company-owned outlets that competed directly with the franchisees’ restaurants. Subsequently, the jury also found […]

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FDDs, Franchise Agreements and Operations Manuals – What Do Prospective Franchisees Need to Know?

May 18, 2018 - Blog by |

When you buy a franchise, the terms of your relationship with the franchisor will primarily be governed by three documents: (i) the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), (ii) the Franchise Agreement and (iii) the Operations Manual. These are three very different documents that impact your rights and obligations in different ways, and having a basic understanding of each is one of the first steps toward understanding what you can expect as a franchisee. 1. The Franchise Disclosure Document When you apply to purchase a franchise, the franchisor will provide you with a copy of its Franchise Disclosure Document. The FDD is a federally-mandated form disclosure which consists of 23 “Items” and a series of exhibits or attachments. Although the form of the FDD is established by federal regulation and there are industry standards for the information that franchisors choose to disclose, the FDD should still be heavily-customized to reflect the unique terms of your chosen franchise opportunity. FDDs can be dense and difficult to digest. But, it is important that you take the time to understand the information disclosed (as well as the implications of any missing or “negative” disclosures). For help dissecting the FDD, you can read: Understanding Your Franchisor’s FDD – Part 1(Items 1 through 7) Understanding Your Franchisor’s FDD – Part 2(Items 8 through 14) Understanding Your Franchisor’s FDD – Part 3 (Items 15 through 23) 2. The Franchise Agreement The Franchise Agreement is the contract you sign when you purchase a franchise. This is a legally-binding and […]

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5 Mistakes to Avoid if You are Facing a Potential Dispute with Your Franchisor

May 16, 2018 - Blog by |

As a franchisee, there is a reasonable probability that, at some point, you will have a disagreement with your franchisor. Whether you think that advertising fund contributions could be better spent or you believe that the franchise system is failing as a whole, the longer you own your franchise, the more likely it will become that a dispute will arise. Not all disputes are grounds for litigation. Franchise agreements provide extraordinarily-broad protections to franchisors; and, in some cases, it simply will not be worth the cost to hire an attorney. But, franchise litigation is more common than many franchisees realize; and, if you think you may have a claim against your franchisor (or if you are concerned that your franchisor may take legal action against you), it is worth taking appropriate steps to prepare. What Not to Do When Anticipating Franchise Litigation When preparing for the possibility of litigation (or mandatory mediation or arbitration), knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. The following are all potentially-costly mistakes that franchisees should avoid when anticipating mediation, arbitration or litigation with their franchisor: 1. Stopping Payment of Royalties and Advertising Fund Contributions No matter how dissatisfied you may be with your franchisor, and regardless of whether your franchisor has violated the terms of your franchise agreement, you should not stop payment of royalties and advertising fund contributions unless advised to do so by your legal counsel. Even if your franchisor owes you money, you are not […]

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Franchise Disclosure Documents and Dr. Frankenstein

May 2, 2018 - Franchise Articles by |

Franchise Disclosure Documents and Dr. Frankenstein By: Jeffrey M. Goldstein An article in the WSJ today provides a glimpse of the interesting results obtained by Professor Uri Benoliel in a new franchise study finding that it takes more than 20 years of education to understand a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The conceptual purpose of disclosure under the FDD is simple – to provide the potential franchisee with all material facts, accurately and concisely, so that he or she may understand and evaluate what he or she is considering buying. Using that simple goal as the benchmark of success, from my perspective, the Federal Trade Commission’s FDD program in practice has been a tremendous failure. The WSJ article accurately sets forth the rote responses to the study of the two other main players in the omnipresent FDD debate: the FTC and the IFA. The FTC, the Dr. Frankenstein of the FDD program, of course “declined comment.” And, the IFA, the titular spokesman for all franchisors, simply ‘read out loud’ one of the canned responses it gives to every inquiry regarding any pro-franchisee observation or proposal: ‘Buying a franchise is complex; make sure that you do your due diligence before buying.’ However, in the IFA’s defense, there’s really no need for it to do any meaningful work on researching the FDD dispute or providing intellectually honest answers regarding it. The number of national lawyers representing solely franchisees has dwindled literally to under a handful, and the number of academics siding with franchisees […]

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