Business Law Notes
Winter 2004 Edition
BUYING A FRANCHISE (Part one of a series)
The best legal advice that can be given to someone considering purchasing or opening a franchised business is to do a thorough due diligence investigation of the business issues first. If you are looking to acquire a franchise from one of the larger and better known franchisors, you can expect all but the most minor legal issues to be non-negotiable. For smaller and lesserknown franchises, you may have more negotiating leverage on legal issues, but you will also be dealing with a franchise that has weaker trademarks, little or no track record and no real security that the franchise will even be around in a few years. So, the best legal advice is to do your business analysis first and do it thoroughly. Here are some key points for your business investigation:
- Talk to as many other franchisees as possible. Visit their operations. Do not just visit the franchisees recommended by the franchisor.
- Is there a franchisee association for your brand? A franchisee association can be a great resource. Also, the existence of a franchisee association means more bargaining leverage with the franchisor.
- Exclusive Territory and Encroachment – Does the franchisor give you an exclusive territory and is the territory sufficiently large? Is there any protection from internet and catalogue sales into your market?
- Collective Buying – Franchisees can benefit tremendously from a franchisor’s ability to obtain volume discounts for its franchisees. However, be certain that the franchisor consistently passes on these discounts to the franchisees and does not favor its own company owned stores.
- Collective Advertising – This is a huge issue in franchising. You will almost certainly be required to pay into an advertising fund. How is this money used? Do other franchi sees consider the advertising effective and evenly distributed? Will your proposed franchise be in an area benefitting from national and local collective advertising?
- What immediate, upfront benefits does the purchase of a franchise entitle you to? Training? Site selection and lease negotiations? Start-up assistance? Marketing assistance and marketing materials?
- Is there a long-term commitment by the franchisor to franchisee support?
- What is your franchisor’s track history? Is the franchisor frequently involved in litigation with franchisees? Has the franchisor lost large numbers of franchisees? Is the franchisor financially healthy?
- Does the franchisor enforce quality and uniformity standards?
- Will the franchisor negotiate modifications of its standard franchise agreement?
Run the Numbers – Look carefully at earnings claims. Sit down with your CPA and see if it all makes financial sense for you. Additional information can be obtained from the American Franchisee Assoc. (http://www.franchisee.org) and the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (http://www.aafd.org). When you feel that you have finished your business due diligence evaluation, take your Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) and the proposed franchise agreement and make an appointment with your business attorney.
>> Read part two of our series on Buying a Franchise
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