| The Federal Trade Commission has rule that are | | | | competitors who pretended to be a prospect, |
| supposedly in place to protect franchise buyers | | | | later dump hydrofluoric acid in the tanks of one of |
| from fraud from franchisors who might attempt | | | | my franchisees a couple of years ago to cause |
| to mislead them into purchasing a franchise. Part | | | | him to damage the paint on customers car so he |
| of the franchise rules are addressing required | | | | could pick up an account from an auto dealer our |
| disclosure paperwork. In this disclosure document, | | | | franchisee washed for. We did not figure out |
| which is required to be given to franchisees 10 | | | | what happened for quite a while and only learned |
| days before any purchase is made are the | | | | of it after the damage and an employee of the |
| names, addresses, phone numbers of all | | | | competitor became disgruntled and told us. What |
| franchisees in the system. For smaller home | | | | if that were anthrax?Even more scary is the fact |
| based franchises this means home numbers, | | | | that I had several former franchisees who were |
| addresses and personal information.I am very | | | | Muslim, who often discussed their despise of our |
| concerned about our company, The Car Wash | | | | government. Which I guess was probably them |
| Guys and the possibility that International | | | | exercising their free speech, which is allowed of |
| terrorists might use our mobile car wash trucks | | | | course, yet now it does not seem so innocent. |
| as tools to distribute biological weapons. We use | | | | There are so many franchises out their that have |
| trucks and trailer units that have capacities in | | | | free access to facilities, such as; Shred It, |
| excess of 600 gallons and low volume, | | | | AmeriSpec, American Leak Detector, |
| high-pressure sprayers. Our team has washed | | | | Environmental Biotech, Merry Maids, Service |
| cars at office buildings, military bases, mass transit | | | | Master, Terminex, ChemDry. I have personally |
| districts, rent a car companies, airports, malls, | | | | seen the ease at which our company transverses |
| QSRs, grocery stores, shipping and distribution | | | | through airport fencing, security gates, etc. They |
| yards, truck stops, parking structures, golf | | | | see the truck and the uniformed employee and |
| courses, media buildings, etc, etc. We wash things | | | | wave us forward. Now think about this problem, |
| like shopping carts, wheelchairs, school buses, | | | | our team without knowing it could deliver a bio |
| trucks, aircraft, boats, awnings, concrete, decks, | | | | weapon simply by an evil-doer dumping something |
| playground equipment, etc, etc. In a single day our | | | | in a tank. Very few lawn companies or termite |
| crews may be at 10-20 locations, in a week each | | | | pest control companies lock their tanks, I know |
| truck/crew maybe as many as 120 locations, | | | | this because our company washes these trucks, |
| throughout a given city. And we have set up | | | | and rarely are their any locks on the tanks. The |
| franchises in 23 states so far and that means in a | | | | smaller the franchisee the more unaware they |
| lot of cities. What concerns me here is this:In our | | | | might be. Are all these companies sure they have |
| UFOC (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular) there | | | | trustworthy employees, and even if they are, do |
| is a list of franchisees, with names, addresses, | | | | they secure and lock tanks and vehicles? Not just |
| phones numbers, and areas. It contains the | | | | parked behind a fence, anyone can scale a fence. |
| perfect information of everything an evil-doer | | | | If an evil-doer is willing to die for his cause, I |
| needs, except a map of how to get to the | | | | doubt if a fence will slow down or stop him/her. |
| franchisees location. Even of more concern. Many | | | | An evil-doer could also order services and hijack |
| of our franchisees own multiple trucks (units) and | | | | the truck or unit. Remember in San Francisco |
| many park such units at their homes. They are | | | | when Thieves would order a pizza from Dominos |
| not guarded they are just parked there. Someone | | | | and then shoot and kill the delivery driver for the |
| could easily walk up and put something inside of | | | | $50.00 in cash on him? There are so many ways |
| the tank and walk away and our franchisees | | | | to use a franchised unit to do these things. We |
| would then be spraying chemicals of mass | | | | must protect the franchise model, reputation of |
| destruction all over the city the next day. That | | | | brand name and the American people. We should |
| would be bad. Not only from a franchisor's stand | | | | not make it easy by giving away all this |
| point and damage of brand name, but also from a | | | | information freely for no real reason. That would |
| stand point of what damage it could do to | | | | only hurt all franchisees of any system all over |
| America. I am not alone in this problem. Think | | | | the country. The American Federation of |
| about TrueGreen ChemLawn, Pest control | | | | Scientists announced that it deleted 500 pages of |
| franchises, etc. We are all at risk, yet nobody is | | | | sensitive information on their initial review, and this |
| thinking there.We have set up special precautions | | | | is one of the most pro-freedom of speech |
| to protect our Water Supply Tanks, have other | | | | supporters in the country.These are our most |
| franchisors? I believe it is up to each franchise | | | | brilliant minds. We are smart enough to follow |
| system to do a RISK EVALUTION of such things, | | | | their lead. With all this said, I wonder why we are |
| put it in writing and protect ourselves and our | | | | putting these UFOCs on the Internet at FranData, |
| franchises. The franchising community, together | | | | why state agencies copy them for mere copy |
| can do our part. Think about the idea of a direct | | | | fees to anyone who asks and why anyone |
| mail franchise company, there are many like | | | | expresses an interest to buy a franchise can get |
| Money Mailer, Coupon Clipper, etc. Additionally; I | | | | one, with lists of all franchisees, addresses and |
| propose a simple idea. Delete the section of the | | | | phones numbers. Since franchisors cannot |
| UFOC with listings of franchisees, names, areas | | | | discriminate based on ethnic sympathies, we must |
| and addresses. Until a more final phase of the sale | | | | give out this information freely. WHY? Some |
| and after the franchisor receives a ten-year | | | | information is dangerous in times of such threats. |
| background check from the prospect. Or perhaps | | | | We should make this a new policy today, not |
| only if it is asked for from the prospect in writing | | | | tomorrow, there is no time for committees, no |
| later. Putting out a list of everyone who owns a | | | | time to talk about it. Just do it. If a franchisee |
| ChemLawn truck in the country is just stupid right | | | | wants to call on other franchisees they are |
| now. How about the name brands which are | | | | certainly allowed to do so after things have |
| American icons, like McDonalds. After all last time | | | | checked out and after they submit a written |
| they went after AMERICAN AIRLINES and | | | | request along with a background check. |
| UNITED AIRLINES. I have already had | | | | |