For the past 15 years of my litigation practice, I have advised domestic and international franchisors on the various challenges associated with dealing with franchisees. I have always tried to shape practical solutions to franchise disputes of all kinds. I have learned a lot about franchise systems and the common root causes that tend to bring franchisors and franchisees into conflict. By contributing to this blog, I hope to share some of these experiences with FP Entrepreneur readers. I am excited to shine a spotlight on what I think it means to be part of a franchise system and to provide practical advice on how to enhance franchisor and franchisee communications. My goal is to also stimulate healthy debate and discussion.
One of the most common misconceptions among franchisees is that when they purchase a franchise, they believe they have bought a business that belongs to them. This can lead to a lot of frustration and disappointment, particularly at the end of the relationship when they lose the right to operate the franchised business, are subject to various post-term obligations and face restrictions on which assets they can sell. More.