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Log In / Register | May 21, 2013

Franchise Succession Planning

Posted Fri, 2013-05-10 12:25 by W Michael Garner

What happens to a franchise if a franchisee passes away? Can the franchise be transferred to a qualified successor? Or will the business automatically be terminated?

Medical Marijuana Franchising: Compliance and Termination

Posted Tue, 2013-04-09 14:33 by W Michael Garner

As the medical marijuana industry continues to grow, medical marijuana franchise business models have become more popular. In fact, recently we reviewed a franchise agreement for a business that provides doctor recommendations for using medical marijuana in California.

Auto Dealerships: Franchising in a Heavily Regulated Industry

Posted Thu, 2013-03-07 12:58 by W Michael Garner

Automobile dealerships were the first type of legally recognized and regulated franchises. In fact, in 1937 Wisconsin enacted the first state law protecting car dealers from wrongful termination and non-renewal.

Gas Station Franchisees and the Federal Petroleum Marketing Practices Act

Posted Wed, 2013-02-06 07:28 by W Michael Garner

Many gas stations are oil company franchises. Typically, the oil company owns the station and leases the premises to the franchisee under an agreement that calculates rent as a percentage of sales.

Understanding Item 20 of a Franchise Disclosure Document

Posted Fri, 2013-01-18 08:48 by W Michael Garner

If you're thinking about purchasing a franchise, pay close attention to the franchise disclosure document (FDD)—the large document that contains disclosures about the franchisor and franchise system. 

How To Read Franchise Financial Statements

Posted Sun, 2012-12-30 18:30 by W Michael Garner

Franchise financial statements contain a wealth of information that franchisees and prospective franchisees should examine carefully.

Understanding Development Agreements

Posted Tue, 2012-12-11 06:54 by W Michael Garner

Under a development agreement, a franchisor offers a franchisee the opportunity to buy the right to develop franchises in a broad geographical territory. Typically, development agreements are separate from franchise agreements, and they require the developer to open a particular number of franchised stores within a number of years.

How Much Can a Franchisee Win?

Posted Tue, 2012-11-13 06:50 by W Michael Garner

Franchisees often ask how much they can win in a lawsuit with a franchisor. The answer depends on many factors, including the type of wrong the franchisor committed and the nature of the loss you sustained.

Can Restaurant Chains Protect Recipes?

Posted Fri, 2012-10-26 13:43 by W Michael Garner

When business partners in the restaurant industry part ways—sometimes as co-owners of a restaurant, sometimes as franchisor and franchisee—the issue frequently arises whether recipes used in the business belong to one of the parties and whether that party can prohibit the other, or anyone else, from using them.