Franchising is practiced the same way, all around the world. This makes sense since its strength is in selling, duplication and control.
These are my personal favourites.
WikidFranchise.org — The most important resource to franchise investors that has ever existed, although I may be biased as a co-editor. A revolutionary powerful resource for policy makers and franchise law advocates. The death of opportunism denial and the birth of proper pre-sale risk assessment.
Use it to look up similar examples. Link these articles on your own blog. Make sure your system’s published articles are front-and-centre for anyone to find in the future.
Learn more about the hidden business risks (The Marriage of Franchising).
Work with me to self-publish your own franchisee narrative: a record of you as a franchise veteran. Stick your experiences in digital bottle or help out by commenting on any article you read.
Franchising
All franchise systems should have their own WordPress.com weblog. It’s free and the 1st step in pursuing financial sustainability. Do it anonymously if you like.
Contact me to get yourself started. les.j.stewart@gmail.com
- Jeff Lefler – An excellent example of a national trademark weblog. Everyone should have their own Lefler! Canada
- Coffee Republic – A good example of a national trademark weblog. Mostly a news feed but very useful. United Kingdom
- Baskin Robbins – same as above but a Blogger (just as good). Australia
- Bloody Franchise – Meteoric. USA
- Anthony’s Franchise Information – It has been 10 years since Ontario, Canada passed a good faith + disclosure law. These types of franchise systems continue to thrive in this permissive environment. Canada
- Forte School of Music – Australia
- SureSLies – Very good. Don’t worry (primitive v. sophisticated): that it exists is 98% of its worth. Australia
- National Bread Network, NBN – Website portal for Canada Bread franchisees. An example of a Leaderless Franchise Network. What the future looks like. Canada
- Australian Franchise Opportunities – Ray Borradale’s weblog. When all else Blog the Brand is a post worth the price of admission by itself. Australia
- CertaProSucks.org - Singing proudly off-key in the FirstService/The Franchise Company, FS/TFC choir: California Closets, CertaPro Painters, College Pro Painters, Field Asset Services, Floor Coverings International, Handyman Connection, Paul Davis Restoration, Pillar To Post, and TenantAccess. FS/TFC used to own Nutri-Lawn. USA
- James Master Lies – A fine example of a tradename weblog. Australia
- Franchise Forum – A good discussion area administered by a trustworthy former franchisee. USA
- Le Blog de Rodolphe – Another WordPress blog but in French this time. The first of many more from the EU and elsewhere. France
- ActionCOACH Transparency – Obviously more unfounded lies from an isolated, unbalanced group. Australia
General Salesmanship
Appearances can be deceiving and I defend my opinions publicly whenever challenged.
ABA Forum on Franchising – A legal and management technique exchange of information mechanism. Serves the industry’s cash flow elites. USA
Beguiling Heresy: Regulating the Franchise Relationship - a great 2004 Penn State Law Review article by Paul Steinberg and Gerald Lescatre. USA
Blue MauMau - It plays an important role. Banner ads cover 0.3% of its operating cash flows. USA
Franchise Association Management - Good advice from Solomon except don’t hire a lawyer 1st: create a Leaderless franchisee network not a IndFA or a litigation-funding group. USA
Franchise Chat – A balanced view of articles and well worth a continued look. New Zealand
Franchise Pundit – Ryan Knoll’s very good but asymmetrically generous blog with great forum discussion. USA
Franchise Remedies – Richard Solomon’s priceless site, check out the Franchise Fraud Symposium Articles and FranWack. USA
Misleading Advertising Law – Michael Webster’s franchise and business opportunity weblog. Very good treatment of the psychology of fraud. Canada
World Franchise Council – Shell entity controlled by the IFA. Useful in in spreading false industry claims and promoting knowingly impotent (although breathtakingly cash flow-rich) disclosure-based laws. USA
Research
bepress Legal Repository – free downloads of law and economic papers (especially Gillian Hadfield) USA
Social Science Research Network – free downloads of social science papers
Kudos to those that run the Baskin Robbins – Allied Brands website in Australia. They have done the near impossible – singlehandedly bringing down Allied Brands, the most corrupt franchisor in Australia. By steadfastly publicising every misstep and cutting off their cash from new franchises, they are what all blogs aspire to.
AB Franchisee,
Good point.
I am often struck at observing the franchisor component of Big Franchising how unremarkably ordinary and common they are. Mid-level SA grunts at best. Their role is implement the Fixers’ plan.
They lack noodle horsepower to see their fixer’s pragmatism.
Too bad plans change!
The real joke is when the DC-based Fixer changes allegiances (sides with franchisee advocates and “enlightened” politicos) and the mini-national FIxers follow suit.
Franchisors actually think that their historical protection racket grease will keep them dominant into the future. The fixers are perfectly mentally ambidextrous; they can argue both sides and are fully prepared to “change sides” to preserve their future professional fee cash flow.
Liking or not liking advocates is irrelevant. Respect for new-found power (media, political, internet) is what they understand.
Remember Voltaire: Clever tyrants are never punished.
I would add that the national tyrants will never be punished because they will be on the vanguard of the “reform movement” within each country.
This is why they are laying down in AUS and Ontario.
Les
[...] It starts with a WordPress blog like one of these 18. [...]