The economic downturn has pushed more entrepreneurs to become franchisees, but in the same breath, it has opened the door for more disputes.
Several Dayton-area companies have expanded their franchise operations in recent months to include more locations, but lawyers in the region say disagreements can increase especially where franchisors and franchisees do not pull their weight.
Mark Peebles, co-founder and president of OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ, said his company has come across many without jobs who, rather than try their hand again in an unsteady job market, think to open their own business by joining a franchise.