Coronavirus

It’s 2022, and this was supposed to be the year that things got back to normal. But, the omicron variant is once again causing COVID cases to spike across the country, and many businesses are struggling as a result. If your franchise is struggling due to the economic impacts of the pandemic, what are your options? What are your legal rights? Franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein explains.

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With new variants spreading rapidly and vaccination rates remaining below what is necessary to gain control of the virus, the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to play a major role in the way that many franchisees conduct business. Franchisees must make difficult decisions about whether (and to what extent) to impose restrictions and requirements, and they must do so while receiving guidance that seems to shift on a near-daily basis. They must take their franchisors’ requirements into account as well.

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Many franchisors are making major changes to their systems in 2021. While most view these changes as being necessary in light of the economic and cultural impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they often carry a hefty price tag, and it is franchisees who are being forced to foot the bill. If your franchisor is implementing major updates, do you have to comply? What if you cannot afford to do so? Franchisee lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein explains:

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The Franchise Times recently reported on a survey conducted by the Coalition of Franchisee Associations. According to the publication, the Coalition of Franchisee Associations collected responses from “just shy of 700 franchisees,” the majority of whom own five or fewer locations. The survey responses shed light on a number of prevailing concerns, as well as some general trends in the franchise industry. Franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts below:

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Firm founder and nationally-recognized franchisee lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein was recently quoted by the Franchise Times. The quote comes from Mr. Goldstein’s statements during the 2021 Franchise Times Legal Eagles Roundtable, which took place on June 10, 2021. The Goldstein Law Firm was a sponsor of the Roundtable discussion.

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FranConnect, a well-known franchise management software provider, recently released a report detailing the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the franchise industry. The report is available for download, and the International Franchise Association (IFA) has summarized some notable data from the report on its website. Here, franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts on some of the key figures and what they might mean for current and prospective franchisees.

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The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently released its Annual Economic Outlook Report for 2021. As summarized on the IFA’s website, “The report offers an in-depth look into franchising’s growth trend following the economic fallout due to the COVID-19 pandemic . . . . [T]he report forecasts positive growth expected for franchise businesses in 2021, provided continued federal support, and suggests the potential to reach pre-pandemic levels of economic output by the end of the year.” Here, franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein takes a look at some of the key data from the report.

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According to a recent article from Franchise Times, some franchisors may choose not to make Item 19 financial disclosures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While franchisors have the option to either provide a financial performance representation (FPR) or make a “negative disclosure” in Item 19, FPRs provide important insights for prospective franchisees who need to gather as much information about franchise opportunities as possible. Here, franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein provides an overview of why some franchisors will likely forego making FPRs in 2021 and what this means for franchise buyers.

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While the start of the New Year was a symbolic refresh for many people, as 2021 is now in full swing, it is clear that things are still far from normal. Spikes in COVID-19 cases are once again triggering new shutdowns and restrictions around the country, and many business owners – franchisees in particular – are struggling as a result. If your franchise is at risk in 2021 due to the effects of the pandemic, what do you need to know? Here are some important insights from franchise lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein:

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Attending large franchise conventions and visiting the franchisor’s headquarters are two hallmarks of the franchise due diligence process. They are also two events that have largely been put on hold during the COVID-19 era. But, franchisors are still selling – and franchisees are still buying – and those who are thinking about buying a franchise must still perform thorough due diligence in order to make an informed buying decision.

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