Organizing a franchisee association is fraught with peril.It can be just another cynical trap for the trusting.
There are three types of groups of franchisees:
- unorganized (no groups).
- franchisee advisory boards (an obvious lapdog) and
- independent franchise associations, IndFA.
Most people think that any type of IndFA is preferable to #1 or #2.
- They’re wrong.
- They’re wrong.
- They’re wrong
The worst type of franchisee organization is an IndFA that gives the appearance of independence but is, in fact, serves their executives’ personal or their advisors’ needs. These I call house negro IndFAs. It’s called deceit and betrayal.
- They auction off their access to information to the highest bidder: the franchisor.
It should come as no surprise that the IndFA’s legal counsel is the role that becomes the most compromised (credence good cheaters). They make much more money and status from leaking information than they ever do representing franchisees or charging an executive. They can’t help themselves: they could not earn a living playing it straight.
Listen to J.K Galbraith:
People need to think of themselves as unmanaged, independent and free, if they are to be controlled with maximum success.
House negro IndFAs are there not to solve problems, but to create obstacles to real change. They are charming, they whisper compromises and they will use a leader’s ambition to turn his or her head. They are stuffed with talking heads mouthing words that seem worthwhile but are designed to trick you.
I am a field negro and I only associate with other field negroes: individually and in groups.
I get paid for giving advice, not for making promises that will never come true. I promise nothing except confidentiality, friendship and a chance to live with dignity. I have no “black box” of association management services. There are no advertisements here or on WikiFranchise.org because commercial interests always favour the dominant economic power, directly or indirectly. I do not make ” a very good living”. I do not auction off access to information to the highest bidder. I always make sure the ownership and control of all data is in the franchisees’ hands (not just mine). I do not “manage” franchisees: I work specific projects on behalf of them. The lessons franchisees learn organizing themselves, stays with franchisees.
I am not the most charming person in franchising but because of how I operate, I may be the loneliest.
I don’t bait traps for franchisees: I spring ’em.