What Causes The Franchise Termination Illinois Business Owners Sometimes Face

By Virginia Burns


There are a lot of good reasons entrepreneurs choose operating franchises over independently operated businesses. It eliminates the need for building brand recognition and an organizational network for one. Franchisor management teams try to select owners who maintain good standings in their communities and are likely to be successful given their past histories. Mistakes can be made however, and franchisors regret their choices. A franchise termination Illinois business owners dread can result.

In most states franchises can terminate relationships for good cause. This usually means that the franchisee has failed to comply with the contractual requirements of their agreement. As the franchisor, you need to make sure that agreement covers a wide range of misbehavior. One of them would be damage to the franchise's reputation. This might include a franchisor pleading no contest or being convicted of fraud or some other felony.

Franchisees who sell fraudulent or competing products using the trademark name will be terminated, but only if the stipulation is included in the contract. Some states won't enforce the cessation even if the franchisor can prove it was happening, but didn't address it specifically in the agreement between the two parties. The laws of the state in which the agreement was signed have jurisdiction.

Failure to maintain standards is another good cause that can get franchisees terminated. There have been cases when businesses have been cited for lack of cleanliness, quality, and service. There are other instances in which franchisees have failed to operate their businesses in a responsible fashion. Termination was permitted in the case of a franchisee who failed to renew a building lease agreement, costing the franchise additional rental charges.

Meeting sales expectations is a prerequisite for maintaining a healthy relationship with the owner's home office. Failing to meet sales expectations, over time, can cause a franchisee to be terminated. The franchisor must show that the sales goals were reasonable, and that the franchisee was the cause of low sales. If a franchise becomes insolvent or does not market to its entire territory, the franchisor has cause for terminating the franchisee.

Franchisors must follow procedures, according to state law, when they attempt to terminate a franchisee. Franchisees have to receive official notice of the termination in advance. A notice is required to list all the reasons for the cessation. It must let the franchisee know exactly when it goes into effect and how much time is being allowed for the owner to correct the issues that caused the breach.

If the breach is incurable, cessation can be immediate. Otherwise the franchisor must allow the owner an adequate amount of time to correct the situation. If the franchisee challenges the termination in court, the length of time allowed for correction can play an important part in a judge's decision to allow the termination or prohibit it.

Owning franchises can be wonderful opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs. It is not the same as owning a business outright however. The opportunity can be taken away fairly quickly when the contract is breached.




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