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Articles and Departments
- AAFD Story Video
- Celebrating 20 Years Of Giving Franchise Owners A Voice
- AAFD Endorses California Fair Franchising Legislation “Level Playing Field for Small Businesses Act of 2012”
- California Legislator Seeks a Level Playing Field in Franchising
- New Law Allows Lower Credit and Debit Card Processing Fees
- How To Form A Franchisee Owners Association
- The AAFD Road Map to Total Quality Franchising
- FTC Association Disclosure: Who is Going to Take The Call?
- Is the Culture in Your Franchise a Big Deal?
Celebrating 20 Years Of Giving Franchise Owners A Voice
The American Association of franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) is proud to celebrate 20 years of fighting to establish and protect the rights of franchisees. Since our formal establishment on May 1, 1992, the AAFD has worked to advocate for franchisee rights and to build collaborative franchise cultures that respect the important interests of both...
read moreAAFD Endorses California Fair Franchising Legislation “Level Playing Field for Small Businesses Act of 2012”
As we reported earlier this month, proposed legislation has been introduced in the California State Assembly that would dramatically change the landscape of franchising in California and perhaps set a strong precedent elsewhere. The legislation addresses issues that have been long festering with franchisees and franchisee advocates. If passed, the...
read moreCalifornia Legislator Seeks a Level Playing Field in Franchising
Proposed legislation has been introduced in the California State Assembly that would dramatically change the landscape of franchising in that state and perhaps set a strong precedent elsewhere. The legislation addresses issues that have been long festering with franchisees and franchisee advocates. If passed, the new law would provide significant...
read moreNew Law Allows Lower Credit and Debit Card Processing Fees
Recent legislation was passed that makes it possible for franchisees to reduce what they pay in card processing fees to Visa and MasterCard. The Durbin Amendment was a last-minute addition to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that went into effect October 1, 20011. The Federal Reserve ruled that debit interchange fees...
read moreFranchisee Success Rates: Here We Go Again!
Article reprinted from Bluemaumau.com. IFA President, Steve Caldeira, recently wrote a letter to the Wall Street Journal complaining that a recent article about the perils of franchising “ignores that more than 90% of franchisees renew their contracts with their franchisers at the end of their terms.” The obvious claim is that more than...
read moreWhat’s Wrong with Franchising in 2012?
Article reprinted from Bluemaumau.com. What’s wrong with franchising in 2012? A paradoxical question; the whole of the franchising community is neither entirely flawed nor without blemish. Perhaps I would invoke the words of Charles Dickens and assert that franchising is experiencing “the best of times and the worst of times.” The...
read moreCelebrating 20 Years of Service and Support for Total Quality Franchising
In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, I am pleased to announce the renaissance of the AAFD! 1. Take a peek at the AAFD’s new website launched in late November: www.AAFD.org You will find advanced features and improved navigation and interactive opportunities. The new site has been built from the ground up to take advantage of improved...
read moreHow To Form A Franchisee Owners Association
At the core of the AAFD’s efforts to promote market driven franchise reform is our dedication to the growth and empowerment of strong and effective franchisee associations. This article is designed to serve as a primer for those who have such an interest. Why? The first step in forming an association is to develop a platform that answers the...
read moreThe AAFD Road Map to Total Quality Franchising
DONE RIGHT, America is entering an opportune time to embrace the franchising path to small business ownership. Clearly, these are difficult times with a sinking economy, disappearing credit markets and rising unemployment. The Wall Street Journal recently reported the results of a survey finding that franchise sales in 2008 are reportedly 48%...
read moreFTC Association Disclosure: Who is Going to Take The Call?
As most of you are aware, independent franchise owners associations (FOA) took a giant step towards legitimacy and official recognition by franchisors with the publication of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) amended Rule in 2007. By following the FTC’s procedural guidelines († see footnote below for a description of the guidelines), a...
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