Huddle House CEO Phil Greifeld, photo/huddle house <!--break--> ATLANTA – Huddle House, an Atlanta-based chain that has slowly built a network since 1966 of 400 restaurant franchises, largely in the Southeast and MidWest, announced Wednesday that it would lower its licensing fee from $25,000 to just $5,000. It is also waiving the first five months of franchise royalties. It's not just Huddle House that is hungry to find franchise buyers: in this environment, small business buyers are having a particularly difficult time finding adequate capital, resulting in fewer viable applicants. Entrepreneurs are complaining that banks are not giving out loans for small business expansion. As a result, Technomic, a leading food research and consulting firm, expects sales in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama discussed the economy and the condition of small businesses in his first State of the Union address given to a joint session of Congress Wednesday night. “We cut taxes for small businesses,” he declared early on in his speech. <!--break--> The President then told Congress that economic growth should be further stimulated by eliminating all capital gains taxes on small business investments, and by providing a tax incentive for all small businesses that invest in new plants and equipment. Matthew Shay, CEO of the International Franchise Association, thinks tax relief is a good thing for America’s franchises. “We support the President’s call for targeted tax relief for new investment in small businesses,”...

ANCHORAGE – Last Thursday, US District Judge Timothy M. Burgess issued an order for Avis Budget Car Rental LLC to pay Alaska Rent A Car $16 million in damages, following a jury verdict last October.<!--break--> In hearing the decision, Robert C. Halcro, a 54-year veteran franchisee said, “We couldn’t help but feel elated with the decision. After seven years of harassment and abuse, it was about time justice was served. We wish for a quick conclusion to this incredibly long unnecessary affair.” Halcro started his car rental business in 1955 in Valdez, Alaska. Halcro’s legal battle began in 2002 when Cendant Corporation, then parent to the Avis car rental franchisor, acquired and continued to operate competitor Budget Rent A Car. He alleged that the acquisition violated all three of his...

OAKLAND, Calif. - California announced a $1.8 million settlement that prevents franchisee Maurice Irving Glad, owner of 22 Midas shops throughout California, from owning or operating an auto repair shop in the state, after the franchisee "deceptively lured" customers with cheap brake specials and then charged hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs. As part of the settlement, Midas International Corporation (NYSE: MDS) is acquiring all of Glad's shops, which therefore will continue to operate without interruption. In addition to acquiring Glad's 22 shops, Midas International Corporation has agreed to honor any and all guarantees or warranties previously made or given to customers.After a four-year undercover investigation by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, the State...