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Posted on Wed, 02/1/2012 - 02:01 PM by
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One of the responsibilities of a franchisor (and its development team) is to establish realistic franchisee expectations. Of course, this includes an accurate disclosure of expected return on investment, but it needs to go beyond “the numbers.” What sort of opening support can the franchisee expect from the franchisor? What ongoing training and support are offered? What can be expected in terms of new product and market development? Is there open, helpful communication between franchisor and franchisees, as well as between franchisees? Another issue which is often overlooked in the process of “selling” a franchise concept to a candidate is the match between the prospect’s personality, life experience, and personal goals and the corresponding characteristics which have proven to be consistent with successful franchisees within the brand. Some companies have been able to clearly identify the “profile” which is especially compatible with their corporate culture. Others have not been able to do this, and (unfortunately) are more focused on initial franchise fees than on ongoing royalties. Needless to say, this last category is not one with a high level of franchisee satisfaction. Outstanding companies know this: taking the “long view” results in long-term success for both “zors” and “zees.” How do you tell if franchisees are satisfied? Through confidential franchise owner reviews. MORE NEWS FROM BLUEMAUMAUTaxes and the DeficitNormally, this column is supposed to cover the tax changes over the prior year and how they impact the hospitality industry. Last year, we commented about how 2010 was an interesting year but little in the tax field had passed. 2010 was all about health care reform, the change in control of the House and the rise of the tea party. It was a very political and partisan year. If anything, 2011 was worse. Never has so little been accomplished by so many. Brinkmanship was the key word for 2011. It will be known more for what did not occur rather than what did. It is not unusual for partisan politics to take center stage in an election year. While 2011 was not, the race for the Presidency and control of the House and Senate began before all the winners from 2010 were known. National Press Writes about Restaurant FranchisingOn May 18th, the national press, both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, wrote about restaurant franchising. Some additional notes are warranted. Mediation: Good, Bad or It Depends?Mediation is often touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread for faster, fairer, and cheaper dispute resolution. Is it? Going International? Don’t Forget One Important ThingFranchisors that are considering exporting their franchise concept to other countries are advised to prepare by following a checklist of key items. However, there is one area that is often overlooked or shortchanged in the process. Going Green Costs Franchisees Much GreenBeing forced to buy imaginary products is just one of the nonsensical results of government policy affecting franchisors and franchisees. RELATED SMALL BUSINESS NEWSMobile Franchises: Do You Like Cars? Hot Franchise Topic: Getting a LoanIt seems like the entire franchise industry is focused on funding, and with good reason; franchise loans are still a bit challenging to secure. Good News, U.S. Hotel Profit RecoveryAccording to the new PKF Trends survey, the U.S. lodging industry produced a 12.7% profit growth in 2011. 80.5% of participating hotels enjoyed an increase in total revenue while 72.3% achieved growth in profits. The recently released 2012 edition of Trends presents data from a sample of nearly 7000 financial statements of United States hotels. For the Trends report, hotel profits are defined as net operating income (NOI) before deductions for capital reserves, rent, interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Federal Court Invalidates "Quickie" Union Election Rule, For NowOn May 14, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia set aside a controversial final rule of the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") that was designed to make it easier and faster for unions to hold organizing elections. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. v. NLRB, Case No. 11-02262 (D.D.C. May 14, 2012). Business groups are hailing the decision, but the celebration may be short lived. Because the ruling was essentially decided on a procedural point, the NLRB may seek to resurrect the rule, which creates a very short window for union elections, and leaves employers with little time to react to an organized union campaign. Field Representatives Coach Franchisees to Victory
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