FranchisePick.com was launched in November, 2006, as one of original blogs in the newly-formed b5 media business channel (later renamed bizzia.com).  I was one of the original b5 Business Channel bloggers, the only one of the 16 to be active on the bizzia channel up until today.
Since that time, I have published 1011 blog posts that generated 12,752 comments, often on controversial franchise topics and companies.
I recently received notice from b5 that, after tomorrow, Franchise Pick will no longer be published as a stand-alone blog, and that the Bizzia channel is being assimilated into the EveryDayJoe.com …read more

After three years under fire on FranchisePick.com, BlueMauMau.org, UnhappyFranchisee.com and other blogs, the much-maligned Morg is speaking out and telling his side of the story for the first time.
Links to the many posts on Cuppy’s Coffee and interviews with Cuppy’s Coffee victims are posted here:  Cuppy’s Coffee
Morg’s unedited post telling his side of the story is here:  CUPPY’S: Robert Morgan’s “My Thoughts About The American Dream”
Robert “Morg” Morgan, the founder and previous owner of the controversial Cuppy’s Coffee and related controversial entities (Medina Enterprises, Elite Manufacturing, etc.)  recently resurfaced as raw food guru “Bobby” Morgan, the “Rawman Walking.”  Rawman Walking publishes …read more

In July, 2009, Franchise Pick explored the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of franchising.  I’ll let you decide which is which.
Do you know a franchise company, franchise opportunity, franchise vendor or issue you’d like to recommend for us to feature?  Email Sean Kelly at info[at]ideafarm.net.
Here’s what we covered in July, 2009:

July’s Featured Franchise:  Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning

Featured Opportunity: Oxi Fresh Franchise 33 Comments
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Franchise Profile
Interview with Jonathan Barnett, Oxi Fresh
OXI FRESH Pt. 2: The Green Franchise 22 Comments
OXI FRESH Franchisees Happy to be Green (1)
OXI FRESH Franchisees Happy to be Green (2)

July’s Featured Franchise Vendor:  Contour …read more

Beware of the Franchise FranBogies!
What’s a FranBogie?  FranBogies are bogus franchise statistics that a certain element of my beloved franchise industry has been feeding, nurturing and breeding for more than 20 years.
They are, in short, shared lies that some irreputable franchisors, franchise sales brokers, con-sultants and lazy and/or apathetic franchise writers perpetuate in order to convince prospective franchisees that buying a franchise – any franchise – is practically a risk-free investment.
According to these bogus statistics, usually attributed to the SBA or US Department of Commerce, starting an independent business leads to financial ruination while buying a franchise is a …read more

According to founder Jan Van Blarcum, Creative Tutors is a rewarding home-based tutoring franchise for experienced educators.
Creative Tutors franchisees operate a home-based educational tutoring business serving students from grades PK-12. Creative Tutors franchisees enjoy training and support systems and an Internet-based reporting and accounting system that enables them to concentrate on marketing their services and building their businesses in their protected territories.
Top New Franchises had a chance to learn more from Creative Tutors founder Jan Van Blarcum.
Share or read the comments on the Creative Tutors FanWall.

Top New Franchises: How do you describe the Creative Tutors franchise concept?
Jan: Creative Tutors franchise …read more

In yesterday’s post on the acquisition of the 1-2-3 FIT franchise chain (1-2-3 FIT Sold to Diversified Health), I pointed out that Fort Lauderdale-based Diversified Health & Fitness has been aggressively buying up the assets of dead, dying and severely wounded franchised fitness chains.
Two years of writing about and commiserating with the franchisees of these chains has left me both hopeful that Diversified HF is genuinely dedicated to helping these franchisees, and fearful that they’re not.
I concluded with an invitation to Diversified Health & Fitness to respond to my rather cynical musings, which they quickly did with the following statement.
Dear …read more

I’m a fan of the Franchise Times magazine and the people who publish it.  I consider it essential reading for franchisors, franchisees and, perhaps especially, prospective franchisees.  Franchise Times is an inside-the-industry publication and, as such, gives a much truer picture of what’s really happening in franchising.  You won’t find Franchise Times on the newsstand, but it’s readily available by subscription or by accessing the Franchise Times website.
Newsstand Entrepreneurial Press:  Hype, Fluff… or Fraud?
Tuesday I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal about my motivation for creating the controversial UnhappyFranchisee.com blog:
Mr. Kelly says he was put off by the promotional …read more

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Fast food icon and head of the burger franchise mogul Jack Box has been tragically struck by a bus in the company’s current darkly comic viral video series.
The breaking news and ongoing coverage of the traumatic event is being playfully deployed through online social media outlets including YouTube, flickr, Twitter, blogs and elsewhere.
Here are the first three faux-amateur videos in the series are featured on franchise marketing blog FranchisorMarketing.com:
Jack in the Box Icon Hit by Bus: Official Statement
Jack in the Box Icon Hit by Bus: Phil Speaks Out
Jack in the Box Icon Suffers Massive Head Trauma
Feel free to leave well …read more

According to a story on Top New Franchises, Fairway Divorce Solutions has opened a new franchise…  Just in time for the bust January divorce season!
Established in 2006, Fairway Divorce Solutions offers a first-of-its-kind alternative to the traditional system of divorce by offering “a new divorce paradigm that saves money, time, stress and protects the children. Charging a flat fee, Fairway Divorce Solutions uses a common sense step-by-step proven approach called The Fairway Process™.”
The Canadian company is growing aggressively with franchises in Victoria, BC; Edmonton, AB; two in Calgary, AB; and one in Saskatoon, SK. Expansion plans into Eastern …read more