Franchisee resource center

The Franchise 500 list is the most well-known and commonly cited of the various franchise rankings, but some confusion surrounds the methodology behind Entrepreneur's ratings. Through a series of articles on FranchiseHelp.com, we'll take a closer look at what goes into compiling these rankings (those from Entrepreneur and those from other sources) and what a prospective franchise buyer can glean from them when trying to make an informed decision about joining a particular franchise system.

These excuses are usually first heard when I meet with a franchise owner who is now asking for advice regarding their dissatisfaction with their franchise relationship. Too late. That is, sometimes it is too late to help them.

In Item 17 of the FDD, franchisors are required to provide summaries and cross-references for 23 key provisions in the franchise agreement. A careful franchise prospect will have the entire franchise agreement reviewed in-depth by an experienced franchise attorney, but the Item 17 disclosures can provide a quick guide to use in a preliminary analysis of the franchise opportunity.

Anoune Mbengue’s franchise investment career began when he picked up a paper napkin.

Here are some suggestions to get your new franchise off to a fast start.

According to event organizers, currently confirmed franchise concepts include (but are not limited to):

The key disclosure in Item 15 states whether the franchise owner is obligated to participate in the direct operations of the franchised business. For prospective franchisees looking for a pure investment rather than a business opportunity, this disclosure might be the first (and only) provision they read in the FDD. Although, an experienced franchise investor may be able to negotiate an exception with the franchisor.

It's no secret that professional athletes make boatloads of money both on the field and through lucrative endorsement deals, but what many fans don't realize is that these big-money stars often blow all their cash in spectacularly bad business ventures.

As a preliminary matter, it is important to understand the distinctions between trademarks, copyrights, patents and proprietary information.