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Rush Nigut is a shareholder with the Brick Gentry Law Firm in West Des Moines, Iowa. His practice includes both transactional and litigation matters including franchising and business law. Rush started his legal blog, Rush on Business, in 2006. He has been quoted or referenced by hundreds of other blogs, websites, and publications. He also is the editor of the Brick Gentry Trial Team blog and can help you identify the most qualified lawyer at Brick Gentry to handle your case. Our lawyers have a breadth of trial experience in personal injury, employment discrimination, business litigation, IP law, and class action cases.

Prospective franchisees are often under the mistaken belief that franchise agreements are not negotiable. That’s often true even after a franchisor says initially that it will not negotiate a franchise agreement. 

So what’s one key in obtaining concessions in your franchise agreement?

Be willing to walk away.

It’s true of any negotiation. If you are

 If you’re a prospective franchise I highly recommend a series of articles written by Robert Purvin, Chairman and CEO of the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, on franchising myths. One of his best articles touches on the myth that Franchising Provides a "Proven Franchise Business System".

I hear this one all the time.

I am speaking at the Iowa Bar Association’s Bridge the Gap seminar on May 9, 2013 on The Lessons I’ve Learned From Seven Years of Legal Blogging.

I am excited about the presentation as it is the first time I’ve spoken on legal blogging for a couple of years. I’ve given numerous presentations about

Those interested in raising investment capital for their business, or those interested in making investments in businesses, may want to take advantage of the monthly due diligence/investor training provided by Plains Angels

Plains Angels is a group of Midwest angel investors that have now funded various projects here in the Midwest. The group is

I recommend prospective franchisees take a look at Empire Builders which is a series of videos highlighting successful multi-unit franchisees. 

Most of the prospective franchisees that come to see me are seeking to purchase a single franchise. Many of them dream of becoming a multi-unit owners but usually lack the capital (at least initially) to

Potential franchisees should read this article from Robert Purvin on Franchising Myth One: Franchises are Safe Investments. In the article, Purvin discusses how franchises and independent businesses fail at roughly the same rate (something discussed at length in several of my blog posts).

It’s critical that prospective franchisees understand that buying a franchise will

* This is a guest post from Jessica Susie of the Brick Gentry Law Firm. Jessica is a registered patent attorney.

The America Invents Act, which President Obama signed into law on September 16, 2011, has been gradually overhauling the United States patent system. March 16, 2013 marked the biggest change – the United