What Should You Do If Your Franchise Is In Trouble And Failing? - Luther Lanard, PC (2024)

What Should You Do If Your Franchise Is In Trouble And Failing? - Luther Lanard, PC (1)

On Behalf of Lanard and Associates | Aug 4, 2016 | Firm News

Your franchise is failing, what should your do? Unfortunately, I sometimes receive a call from a client telling me that his franchise business (as a franchisee) is failing and is costing him money out of pocket each month. The client is often afraid to speak with the franchisor or the landlord or ask them for help. When they come to me they are desperate for some advice on how to handle that situation. What are the steps you should take if you have a franchise that is failing? Here are a few suggestions on what you should do if your franchise is in trouble.

1. TALK TO THE FRANCHISOR

Most of my clients are surprised when I suggest that they have an open conversation with the franchisor. Often the franchisor can help by waiving royalties for a period of time; providing additional training or suggestions to improve the way the franchisee is operating his business; offer to re-purchase the territory. A good franchisor wants you to succeed as it helps with future franchise sales to have successful franchisees and helps strengthen the brand. Additionally, if a franchisee fails and closes, it must be disclosed in the FDD and that is not something that a franchisor wants to disclose if it doesn’t need to.

2. TALK TO THE LANDLORD

Again, my clients are surprised by this suggestion. However, a Landlord can often be cooperative with a failing franchisee and help him by reducing rent for a period of time (usually the reduced rent will have to be made up at the end of the term) or reducing the term of the lease. Landlords are most likely to try to help as it is never desirable for a Landlord to have vacancies in the shopping center. It is usually preferable for them to work something out to keep a business going unless the shopping center is so desirable that there are other businesses waiting to go into the center.

3. RESPOND TO NOTICE OF DEFAULT

If you have received a notice of default from the franchisor, you should immediately contact us to discuss it. You have options at that point on how to proceed. If you have claims against the franchisor, for example, you may want to assert them at this time. If not, you may want to see if the franchisor knows of a party to whom the business can be sold. Regardless, before a response can be made, all the available options should be considered.

4. CONSIDER SELLING THE BUSINESS

Often the best answer to a franchise that is not succeeding is for the franchisee to sell the business to a third party who becomes the new franchisee for that territory. This allows the failing franchisee to terminate its obligations under the franchise agreement and under any lease. This is usually the cleanest way for a failing franchisee to leave the business. In this scenario the franchisee typically eliminates all future obligations under the franchise agreement and the lease. Sometimes, the selling franchisee will need to reduce the price to a sufficiently low enough number (below the value of his investment) to sell. It is still advantageous as the franchisee will be able to walk away from the franchise and the lease and all personal guarantees and move forward with his life.

CONCLUSION

If your franchise is in trouble, it is imperative to contact us early in the process. Consider speaking with the franchisor and landlord and seeing if they would allow reductions in the fees that are paid. If you receive a notice of default, let us know immediately so we can work with you to structure a game plan to work it out. Lastly, if it looks like the business cannot succeed, sell the business and transfer the franchise and the lease to a buyer.

What Should You Do If Your Franchise Is In Trouble And Failing? - Luther Lanard, PC (2024)

FAQs

What Should You Do If Your Franchise Is In Trouble And Failing? - Luther Lanard, PC? ›

A common type of work out is called forbearance. This work out allows the parties to work together to save the franchise relationship. Typically, the franchisor makes arrangements to allow the franchisee to pay off debts over time.

How do you save a failing franchise? ›

A common type of work out is called forbearance. This work out allows the parties to work together to save the franchise relationship. Typically, the franchisor makes arrangements to allow the franchisee to pay off debts over time.

What happens to a franchisee when the franchise fails? ›

For example, the franchisee: may lose their right to use the brand. may be unable to get stock if they receive it through their franchisor or a company associated with the franchisor. may lose their right to occupy the premises if the franchisor holds the head lease where the franchisee operates their business.

What is the number one reason why franchises fail? ›

Improper management and operations is the leading cause of business failure, and in franchising – where the franchisor does not have control of the day-to-day management of the franchisee's business – there is often little the franchisor can do to prevent franchisee failure.

How to sell a failing franchise? ›

Top Tips to Help You Sell Your Failing Business Fast
  1. Why is your business losing money? ...
  2. Understand the value of your assets. ...
  3. Get advice on valuing your distressed business. ...
  4. Be transparent with your financials. ...
  5. Maintain healthy relationships with potential buyers. ...
  6. Negotiating with interested parties - know your strengths.

What to do when your franchise is failing? ›

Often the best answer to a franchise that is not succeeding is for the franchisee to sell the business to a third party who becomes the new franchisee for that territory. This allows the failing franchisee to terminate its obligations under the franchise agreement and under any lease.

How to save your business from failing? ›

10 things you should do to save a failing business
  1. Change your mindset. ...
  2. Perform a SWOT analysis. ...
  3. Understand your target market and ideal client. ...
  4. Set SMART objectives and create a plan. ...
  5. Reduce costs and prioritize what you pay. ...
  6. Manage your cash flow. ...
  7. Talk to creditors, don't ignore them. ...
  8. Organize your business.

Is a franchisor liable for negligence of franchisee? ›

Vicarious liability is a legal claim that imposes liability on one party for the fault of another party. In the franchising world, vicarious liability claims can be filed against the franchisor for the negligent actions of the franchisee.

Who is liable for losses in a franchise? ›

Who is liable for losses in a franchise? Since a franchisee is often considered a separate business entity from the franchisor, losses incurred by a franchisee are and should be incurred by the franchisee.

Can franchise owners get in trouble? ›

The FAST Act also makes franchisors liable for ensuring regulatory compliance on behalf of the franchisees. For example, if a franchisee fails to comply with applicable law and regulations, employees can sue the franchisor for monetary or injunctive relief.

What is the average lifespan of a franchise? ›

10–20 years is the typical length of a franchise agreement. The U.S. has over 70 of the world's top 100 franchises.

What percentage of franchise owners fail? ›

Five Factors that Impact Franchisee's Success

Studies in the market have estimated that failure rates for franchises can be as high as 50%, while others studies show lower rates around 20%. With a range like this, It's important you research the potential risks of starting a franchise before deciding to invest.

What is the most successful franchise? ›

The top 25 highest grossing media franchises of all time worldwide (by total revenue in U.S. dollars) are as follows:
  • Pokémon – $92.121 billion.
  • Hello Kitty – $80.026 billion.
  • Winnie the Pooh – $75.034 billion.
  • Mickey Mouse & Friends – $70.587 billion.
  • Star Wars – $65.631 billion.
  • Anpanman – $60.285 billion.

Can you walk away from a franchise? ›

Franchisees often become so frustrated with the lack of success of their franchises that they choose to abandon or “walk away” from their franchises. Under most state laws, however, a franchisee who walks away from his franchise may be successfully sued by his franchisor for abandonment.

Can you give back a franchise? ›

Sometimes It Is the Best Option

Other times there's a legal breach of the franchise agreement, for example when payments are not made on time or vendors are not paid in a timely manner. A breach of the franchise agreement can force the franchisee to sell the franchise back to the franchisor.

Can you sell back a franchise? ›

There are at least a few options: (1) determine whether or not you have any leverage you can use against the franchisor so that it will allow you to exit the business; (2) sell the business to a third party or existing franchisee; (3) sell the business back to the franchisor; or (4) find out if the franchisor is ...

How can I save my franchise? ›

How do you manually save a Franchise? Every google result to this question says that you should press the "View" button on the Xbox controller to bring up a menu which allows you to do a manual save in Franchise.

How to recover from business failure? ›

Here's how you can bounce back from business failure and come back stronger than ever:
  1. Acknowledge the Failure. ...
  2. Analyze What Went Wrong. ...
  3. Learn and Adapt. ...
  4. Rebuild Your Confidence. ...
  5. Set New Goals. ...
  6. Manage Your Finances Wisely. ...
  7. Stay Resilient and Persistent.
Jun 13, 2024

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