I talk with prospective franchisees a lot. Smart people. Successful professionals. Many of them are leaving corporate careers because they want more control, more upside, and a business they can call their own.
They usually start with the same belief.
Franchising is safer.
Franchising is proven.
Franchising works better than going it alone.
That belief
I have sat across the table from hundreds of business owners who all say some version of the same thing: “I did not think this would become a problem.” That sentence usually comes right before a costly fix that could have been avoided with a little planning.
From the perspective of a business lawyer, most
As a business lawyer, I am often asked a version of the same question, usually after a client’s voice drops a notch.
“How is this going to turn out?”
It is a fair question. Lawsuits often feel make-or-break because they threaten time, money, reputation, and focus all at once. Most business owners are not afraid
For high school and college athletes, opportunity often arrives fast. A NIL deal. A sponsorship deal that must be signed by the weekend.
Most athletes are told the same thing. Do not worry. Your agent has it covered.
That advice can be costly.
Agents are hired to find opportunities. Lawyers are hired to protect futures.
Many franchise buyers focus on what the franchise representatives say the franchise will do for them and overlook the written contract that actually governs the relationship. Common mistakes include assuming the agreement is standard, underestimating exit restrictions, overlooking long term costs, and signing before fully understanding risk. A careful reading of most franchise agreements reveals
Franchise agreements are negotiable more often than people think. The franchisees who have the most success focus on three to five high impact issues, remain patient throughout the process, and are genuinely willing to walk away if the deal does not make sense. The ability to say no is often what creates leverage.
Can franchise
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay.
Clients are now using it all the time. For many it is the first step before contacting a lawyer, if they contact a lawyer at all now. And yes, people are absolutely using ChatGPT and other AI tools to draft contracts.
Recently, a client sent me an agreement
Twenty years ago, Rush on Business began with a simple and deliberate goal: make the law understandable for everyday business owners. At the time, I took a chance on the idea that openly sharing clear, practical legal guidance through a blog could genuinely help people and, in doing so, build meaningful client relationships. I never
Last week, I attended the Annual Forum on Franchising. As always, it was a great chance to connect with peers, share stories, and stay in tune with what’s happening across the franchise industry.
But something stood out this year.
The two most crowded sessions focused on topics that should raise concern for any current or
