A Franchise Consulting Table at Blue MauMau

"I’m going to take a seat at the table, and I invite you to visit."

Some time ago I was invited to Blue MauMau by its founder. So, I went to the room and observed the regulars and the transients alike, and it seemed to be as normal (?) a group of people as any other pub, gym, ballpark, or franchise expo.

I heard some good conversations from where I was standing. Some of the innocent, meek or mild were still looking for love in all the wrong places. Some of the scarred warriors were banging shot glasses, but I never discount them because there’s 20/20 insight under the eye patches (and hell, I’m one of them). But in the middle of the crowd, like in most places, there were a bunch of not so wide-eyed searchers checking things out and trying to make sense of what appears at times to be a very non-sensible environment – franchising.

After more than 25 years of dating and re-dating this crazy industry, I realize I’m inexorably hooked on franchising. I also know very well the bed in which I sleep, and I’ve resigned myself to relaxing with my choice. And “choice” is the right word, because I figure you have about three of them in franchising, although you may see it differently.

Three Basic Choices

Choices one and two are options if you find that franchising is in your blood, and you stay around long enough to learn your survival skills. First, if you’re a decent person, you’ll use your skills to do well and try to help others negotiate the minefields. Second, if you’re black hearted, you’ll use your skills to sprinkle stardust on the landmines and not even acknowledge the carnage until fate breaks your neck and twists your head around. Of course, the third option is to find out that franchising is not in your blood, and sooner or later you’ll leave, hopefully with some skin still on your bones.

So, I’m going to take a seat at the table, and I invite you to visit. I will like you and respect you until you disrespect me. I will always listen, but not to guff. I am here to learn, to talk, and to have fun with the gruff and the not so gruff, so long as they are the “decent people” – those who keep a light on the truth even when their batteries are low.

I look forward to talking about certain (bunches of) “consultants” that need to be called brokers (salesmen, agents or sellers), about due diligence, about the decision to become a franchisor or a franchisee, about the entrepreneurial lifestyle, about “not so” hot business opportunities for the masses (a wonderful joke), and of course, about the new (lack of FTC disclosure) rules for shooting pigeons.