The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all their ego and glory has proclaimed that franchise disclosure laws are "Cost Effective." I hate to break it to the FTC, but your comments and court are completely naked. The folks at the FTC are wearing no clothes. In a recent franchise report put out by the commission they actually had the tenacity to say that these rules and regulations in the franchise law are cost effective.
What on God's Earth are they talking about? How can the FTC purport that as truth? That is a farce indeed. For instance the printing costs alone do not show anything in the way of cost-effectiveness. Printing costs are the real costs after the preparation costs of 25-35k, not including the registration costs and on-going changes which are made every time another brilliant judge in some Kangaroo Court wants to make a statement triggering additional case law and therefore new clauses in the franchisor's UFOCs. The whole thing is just a complete joke really. Yet no one says anything, because if you complain about it, you are "Unprofessional" instead franchisors are to simply accept this and pardon the figure of speech "bend over and take it like a man" from the parasites of the regulators and the terrorists, extortionists lawyers. (CYA- this is personal opinion, using common phrases and figures of speech, well know in the entrepreneurial sector; those noble innovators who provide and build everything you see, every where you go, anywhere you live and everything you buy).
The cost alone to print UFOCs is not cost effective. What is the real cost. I'll throw out the number $4.65 to print a UFOC, and most franchisors do not print just one at a time, we print 50 or so at time, some franchisors print 250 ? 500 at a time due to the number of potential inquiries. These are 1998 costs, generally UFOCs have gotten bigger since then as lawyers have further put a strangle hold on the industry and without some tort-reform; they will just get bigger and bigger. I imagine they will continue to bulge at the seams as we add more pages due to this Federal Trade Commission future ruling.
Many UFOCs never get used because there is always new case law showing up on the ABA Forum on franchising and so we are constantly modifying them. It makes it hard to lead a franchise company when all the agreements are somewhat different to CYA yourself from the changes caused by litigation in the private sector, apparently franchising has joined the ranks of mold, ADA law, employment law, sexual harassment, wrongful death as a good way to make easy money for lawyers? Think about it, spilt hot coffee, the hamburgers made me too fat, forgot to disclose or mention your dog's name when you were five years old and suddenly and magically a lawsuit. We made 22 changes in the 2002 UFOC for the state of CA for renewal. We had about 10 left over, which became invalid and were be tossed out as the new redlined copy becomes the latest CA version. So really we had $46.50 in throw-aways, and that is just CA, one state. Remember we have 12 viable registration states. So multiply that times twelve and a yearly occurrence. And large franchisors are probably stuck with 10 times that number. Especially those who print 50 or more copies and deliver them to master franchises, who are told to throw them all out and start over every time some new case law shows up or a state registration renewal comes due. Cal-if-forn-ia is not the only registration state, just the most ridiculous one, you would swear that the Liberal crowd in Boston, Merry Land and NY are trying to become close runners up by the proposed franchise legislation and the insanity of their registration requirements. Someone really needs to talk to those folks about what capitalism is, how it works and what is meant by free markets. Any and all UFOCs, which were printed as of this date will most likely be thrown out due to law and rule changes, case law and future possible rule changes here at the Federal Trade Commission. I have talked with some larger franchisors, who claim a $500,000 per year budget in printing. Yah sure, like that is somehow "Cost-effective?" Of course the way government throws around and wastes money, apparently they believe money grows on trees just like the ones that are cut down to print all this over disclosure. May I ask what happened to the Paper Work Reduction Act? The idea behind it is to streamline, not pass on the problem to the private sector.
Yah, what a joke and we pass this off as responsible government, its time to bring Ronald Reagan's ass back down from Heaven and cut out the fat. Cost effective indeed and what on Earth would government know about being cost effective, give me a break. Think about it and thanks for listening.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
Willow Springs limo O'Hare .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs small business owners we're in business to make money... Read More
Do you have a Business Plan? Congratulations, but you are... Read More
Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of... Read More
So you want to start a business but you don't... Read More
So there I was ? sitting in the audience of... Read More
Ask anyone trapped in a cubical about their entrepreneurial dream... Read More
If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More
The success of your business depends on your ability to... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
The Operations Plan is a critical component of any business... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
If you've been thinking about starting a business, but are... Read More
One overlooked individual in the process of taking a company... Read More
Here are some useful tips on what to consider before... Read More
As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why... Read More
Car wash businesses are unique to other businesses. In fact... Read More
Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts... Read More
If you own a small business, you should know that... Read More
The less a business pays for goods and services the... Read More
Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business... Read More
Rule 15C211Under SEC Rule 15C211, a U.S. securities broker or... Read More
How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
group transportation logistics management Highland ..My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too... Read More
In general, all of us know how to accomplish the... Read More
Boston itself covers 50 square miles of concrete and traffic,... Read More
When you hear the word "success" does it bring on... Read More
You may find this Newsletter a little long winded but... Read More
The revenue history is a vital piece of your power... Read More
How careful are you with the data you collect from... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More
Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More
Why Alliances FailWhen do you know an alliance is falling... Read More
"So what?" is a lovely question.It can lead to a... Read More
Many small businesses do quite well due to the blood,... Read More
To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses.... Read More
Don't you find that there are so many decisions you... Read More
Completion not Perfection Five Keys To Doubling Your Productivity and... Read More
Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de... Read More
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos,... Read More
Never underestimate the power of perception! Perception plays a major... Read More
In the 2003 Auto Laundry News Survey it was determined... Read More
Most of us remember going to at least one garage... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
Has this ever happened to you... 'John, you have a... Read More
Small Business |