‘Franchise Today’ Debuts Legal Eagle Franchise Series

Legal Issues Facing the Franchise Industry to be Discussed by Leading Legal Experts in 4-Week Series on ‘Franchise Today’ Weekly Broadcast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR Log (Press Release) – Apr 29, 2010 – SAN ANTONIO - franchisEssentials announces the debut of its’ ‘Legal Eagle Franchise Series’ on the weekly broadcast of Franchise Today starting Thursday, April 29th. This 4-week series, which runs April 29th and May 6th, 13th, and 20th, will feature discussions with leading franchise industry legal experts including:

• Michael Webster, Franchise Attorney and Chairperson of the Strategic Committee of the International Association of Franchisees and Dealers;
• Lane Fisher, Partner at FisherZucker LLC; and a member of the International Franchise Association’s Board of Directors;
• Warren Lee Lewis, Shareholder-Franchising & Licensing at Akerman Senterfitt and Author of The Franchise Seller’s Handbook; and
• Leslie Curran, Franchise Attorney at Plave Koch PLC and Board Member/President-Elect at NAWBO Greater DC.

The show broadcasts live on Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. CDT/ 1:00 p.m. EDT, and can be accessed at: http://blogtalkradio.com/FranchiseTodayShow.

Topics for the series include:

Week 1: 4/29 with Michael Webster
• The purpose of independent franchise associations
• Alternative dispute resolution options within franchising

Week 2: 5/6 with Lane Fisher
• Developing financial performance representations for Federal Disclosure Documents (FDDs)
• The do’s and don’ts of utilizing financial performance representations (FPRs)

Week 3: 5/13 with Warren Lee Lewis
• Maintaining compliance throughout the franchise sales process
• Permitted and prohibited franchise sales activities

Week 4: 5/20 with Leslie Curran
• How to utilize franchise brokers while mitigating risk
• IFA Legal Symposium highlights
• Women’s Franchise Network

A precursor to the upcoming IFA (International Franchise Association) Annual Legal Symposium to be held May 16 – 18 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington D.C., this series, co-produced by Joe Caruso, a leading expert on franchise best practices and frequent contributor to Franchise Today, seeks to expand upon issues to be discussed at the symposium. Ultimately, Franchise Today seeks to expose those not able to attend the IFA event to similar issues, presented by some of the leading legal professionals in the franchising industry.

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The industry-leading show Franchise Today focuses on franchising from an ‘insider’s perspective’ and seeks to aid franchisors in developing more effective methods of attracting today’s more sophisticated and technologically-advanced consumers/franchisees. The broadcast capitalizes on the experience of its’ host, Paul Segreto, CEO and Founder of franchisEssentials. With over twenty years of exclusive service to the franchise industry, and as a proponent of inter-dependent franchise relationships and franchise best practices, Paul includes as guests on Franchise Today, a variety of world-class franchise-industry experts, franchisors, franchisees and technology-driven media experts.

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franchiseEssentials, a division of 21st Century CEO, is a franchise marketing and development firm with its focus on integrating Web 2.0 technology with traditional strategies. Paul Segreto, President and Founder of franchisEssentials, brings a unique perspective, entrepreneurial spirit, and extensive industry experience to startup and emerging franchise companies. For over twenty years he has exclusively served the franchise industry as a consultant and coach, senior-level corporate executive, activist, multi-unit franchisee, and area developer. Paul can be contacted at paulsegreto@FMDpro.com, and the company website can be viewed at http://www.franchisEssentials.com.

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Insights on Franchise Brokerage discussed on “Franchise Today”

This week on Franchise Today, I was joined by Blair Nicol, Board Member at FranNet LLC and President and Owner at FranNet of Southern California. Blair and I explored the world of franchise brokerage, challenges facing franchising today and much more including:

1. Points on how FranNet stands out from the crowd in franchise brokerage.
2. Details on FranNet broker training in franchise sales and more specifically, with respect to franchise compliance.
3. Opinions on “Quick and Easy” franchise broker models.
4. Perspective on the ever-changing world of franchise lead generation.
5. Franchising segments that have seen most recent success.
6. Potential perils franchisors may face in using franchisor brokers, especially unethical brokers.
7. Insight about the regurgitation of franchise leads by franchise brokers and portals.

My editorial this week focused on the recent discussion in the LinkedIn Franchise Professionals group, Yes, You Can Negotiate a Franchise Agreement. Please take a moment to visit / join this group and participate in the discussion.

This segment of Franchise Today aired LIVE on Thursday, April 22nd at 12 PM CDT / 1 PM EDT and may be accessed online On-demand.

Next week, Franchise Today will shift gears for a six-week series on Legal Issues within Franchising. Stay tuned for more details and information.

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Fear and Consequences of Failure: A Story Worth Repeating

I’ve been asked time and again to post the following article that I’ve written about my own personal experience as a multi-unit franchisee where I succeeded at first, only to crash and burn later on. This article has been posted on several of my blogs, and picked up by numerous other blogs and online magazines. I have received numerous comments and inquiries about the article, individuals sharing their personal experiences and requests for assistance. Although I cringe at the thought of any business failing, I admire and respect the fact that franchisees and franchisors alike know when to put their pride aside and ask for assistance, and I look forward to providing my experience and expertise to help determine a practical resolve to their problems.

I’m proud to say this article has been instrumental in helping a number of businesses keep their doors open and work towards recovery. On the other hand, I’m also sad to say several businesses were not as fortunate, but at least the owners were able to exit with dignity and in few cases, with less liability than they previously thought possible. And, in one case, the owner actually exited in the black when we were able to facilitate the sale of her business when she previously thought about just walking away.

Fear and Consequences of Failure

I can personally relate to the trials and tribulations of owning franchise businesses as I have “been there and done that” and have experiences on both ends of the spectrum from achieving overwhelming success to dealing with bitter failure. I have definitely come to understand the fine line between success and failure in trying to nail down the American Dream.

I know it is sometimes counterproductive to even mention failure which is why the subject is always avoided and never discussed. Yet, it’s out there and it’s real. Once franchisees face the possibility of failure and its very real consequences they can be motivated to understand that failure is not an option and commit 100% to a plan that addresses immediate problems and provides solutions accordingly. Even if it’s necessary for the plan to be quite drastic or aggressive due to prevailing circumstances, franchisees that unequivocally realize that failure is not an option are prepared for immediate action.

Let me emphasize one point. Franchisees should not view poor sales and disappointing profits as either potential or immediate failure and stick their heads in the sand. I made that mistake in the past and suffered the consequences. Instead, franchisees should build upon the courage it took to become a franchise business owner and recommit to success as they did when they first took the entrepreneurial plunge.

They need to remember their wishes, hopes and dreams that prompted the decision to own their own business? They need to remember the admiration of family and friends when they heard about the new venture? They need to remember the excitement when they actually signed the franchise agreement?

Unfortunately, there’s a very distinct possibility the root of the problem is embedded in the franchisee’s actions, non-conformity to the franchise system and unwillingness to face reality. However, as there was some shining light evident during the franchise award process, it may not be a totally lost cause if the franchisee is made to completely understand the implications and consequences of failure.

As franchisors are faced with the potential of closed units during this recession that may be the result of things out of their control, it’s imperative they don’t lose even a single unit just because a franchisee just flat out needs a snap back to reality. It’s worth the effort.

Let me clarify something. I failed as a franchisee. Not because of anything the franchisor did or didn’t do but because I put and kept my head in the sand and did not face reality. I could go on and make excuses about things that happened around me but at the end of the day I could have turned things around if I got my own head out of the sand, made some difficult decisions and took full, immediate responsibility.

Unfortunately I was scared of failing. I was afraid of what people would think. I was ashamed at what other franchisees, ones I put in business, would think of me. I couldn’t even think of facing my family. All lame excuses for not taking responsibility. Maybe a hard swift kick you-know-where would have helped.

Did I mention that I previously ran the franchise company where I failed as a franchisee? Did I mention I was elected by fellow franchisees, President of the National Advisory Council? Did I mention that I owned and operated five franchise units?

If I had clearly understood the implications and consequences that were looming on the horizon and if I was able to get my big ego out of the way and address things head on, maybe I could have survived. Maybe I could have at least implemented an exit strategy that would have, in some small way, paid back the loyalty and support of my employees, family and friends.

In the end, I may not have survived because it may very well have been too late when and if I finally took action and responsibility. But maybe I could have at least exited with some dignity. Also, I could have saved many innocent people a great deal of hardship, embarrassment, wasted effort and ill-spent resources if I did face reality. This includes my family, my employees and yes, my franchisor; all who believed in me.

Yes, it was a tremendous learning experience but not one I would bestow or wish on anyone. Now, all I can do is to offer my experience to anyone in the franchise industry that needs assistance. If just one franchise business is saved from the consequences of failure, then we’ve made progress. Progress we’ll continue to build upon.

State of Franchising and the IFA discussed on Franchise Today

This week on Franchise Today, Paul Segreto was joined by Scott Lehr, Vice President of US and International Development at the International Franchise Association.

This segment of Franchise Today was extremely informative and enlightening as Paul and Scott discussed the recent International Franchise Expo sponsored by the IFA, the state of franchising, the state of the IFA, and upcoming and new IFA events and programs.

The show aired LIVE on Thursday, April 15th at 12 PM CDT / 1 PM EDT and is now available On-demand.

To listen to previous segments of Franchise Today on-demand please visit http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/FranchiseTodayShow

Exclusive Mobile Marketing Program for Franchise Organizations

Are your franchisees struggling for new customers, or to get more business from their existing customers, in today’s difficult economic environment

Do your franchisees complain that they can’t afford to advertise to get more customers?

Does your corporate staff have a difficult time getting franchisees to read important emails or updates on the company Intranet?

Does your franchise development staff need additional methods of generating leads for prospective franchisees?

Would you like an easy-to-use, high ROI, low-cost way to solve these problems?

If so, please continue reading because Mobile Marketing is the answer!

Studies have shown that mobile marketing has the highest ROI of any direct marketing medium, are read by 97% of recipients within 15 minutes, and because 84% of consumers keep their cell phone within 10 feet of them at all times, mobile messages have an AVERAGE response rate of 15%.

Strategic Partnership Benefits Franchise Industry

And we can help your franchise organization take advantage of this incredible marketing medium through a new strategic partnership between franchisEssentials and Strategic Growth Concepts, who recently entered into an agreement to become a Certified Solutions Provider for a leading Mobile Marketing services firm.

Because of franchisEssentials Integrated Franchise Marketing initiatives, we have requested and received authorization from our strategic partner and the Mobile Marketing services firm to offer a special Franchise Incentive Program for franchise organizations interested in taking advantage of the benefits of Mobile Marketing.

FREE Mobile Marketing Account

For a limited time only, we’re offering franchisors a FREE mobile marketing account for the corporate office that achieves a minimum percentage of franchisees signing up to participate in the program individually. And the FREE corporate account remains in force as long as the franchise system maintains the minimum percentage of franchisees also participating in the program! And we’ll help sign them up!

This means that your franchisees can begin sending unlimited text messages for as little as $25 per month, and the corporate office can begin sending them for FREE! Since text messages are typically read within 15 minutes and have an exceptional ROI, franchisees can start increasing revenue immediately, and you can start generating franchisee leads, marketing on a chain-wide basis, and communicating more effectively with your current franchisees!

Franchise Organizations Are Using Mobile Marketing

Click the links below to learn how several franchise organizations are using Mobile Marketing, and the successful results they’re experiencing:

Little Caesar’s Mobile Campaign Nets 62% Opt-in

Popeye’s Mobile Campaign Garners 54% Opt-in

Mobile Marketing Ideas from National Brands

Learn More About Our Special Offer and New Mobile Club

If you would like to learn more about Mobile Marketing and to take advantage of this special offer, please TEXT the word FRANCHISE to 244326. This will opt your organization in to franchisEssentials Mobile Club, and notify us to schedule a FREE demonstration for your organization.

Members of our Mobile Club will be eligible for future special offers, and will receive weekly tips on using Mobile Marketing to benefit your business. If you prefer not to join the Mobile Club but would still like to receive the FREE demonstration, contact us by email at paulsegreto@FMDpro.com. Please be sure to mention keyword FRANCHISE.