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At the 2018 AAFD Franchisee Leadership Summit, our six Action Task Forces got to work tackling some of the biggest challenges (or areas of opportunity) that franchisees face. Additionally, our Leadership Summit delegates voted to merge two existing task forces and introduce two brand new ones. That means, we now have seven Action Task Forces that desperately need members to help them thrive.

If you’ve wanted to take on a bigger role in fighting for Total Quality Franchising, then this is your chance! Below is a brief description of each task force. Check "Yes" for each task force you are interested in joining (you may join more than one!), and we will be in touch with you soon.  

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* 1. Protecting Franchisee Equity Action Task Force 

This task force is defining what it means for a franchisee to have “equity” in a franchised business and what is needed to protect franchisee equity rights during the franchise if they should leave the franchise or be terminated. The group considers rights to sell, renew, and grow, as well as rights after termination.

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* 2. Empowering Franchisee Associations Action Task Force

This task force focuses on two different but related areas. The first focus is to determine how best to achieve recognition of a franchisee association from a franchisor, and the related questions of whether this will require a broad legislative push or a franchise-by-franchise contractual effort. Secondly, the task force will look at how franchisee associations can maintain relevance in order to retain and grow membership for the long-term.

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* 3. Market and Territorial Protection and Rights to Compete Action Task Force

Both market protection and rights to compete are among the most crucial and complex issues that franchisees face. The market protection clause in a franchise agreement can literally mean professional life or death to a franchise, while the right to compete clause could restrict a franchisee's ability to seek new opportunities now or in the future. This task force faces many challenging questions and will have to find solutions that balance their own needs with the needs of the franchisor, which are often diametrically opposed to each other.

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* 4. Marketing and Marketing Funds Action Task Force

One of the primary benefits of joining a franchise is the purported power of shared marketing. All franchisees pay into the marketing fund, but are they all getting the promised, or even fair, benefit? This task force is discussing common marketing abuses and reviewing methods to create a more fair and transparent use of marketing funds.

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* 5. Group Purchasing Action Task Force

Group purchasing is an area ripe for abuse by franchisors. (A comparison of Subway and Quiznos group purchasing tactics may offer an excellent case study.) This task force looks at unethical franchisor behavior in this area and considers how franchisees can use the substantial power of group purchasing to their benefit.

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* 6. Private Equity Action Task Force *NEW* 

A private equity takeover can be a serious threat to a franchise system. When this happens, franchisees can find themselves as the mercy of a new owner whose priority is to increase ROI, often at the expense of product/service quality and customer care. This Action Task Force will consider how franchisees can prepare for the possibility of a private equity takeover and develop a collaborative relationship with their new owner.

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* 7. Business Education Action Task Force *NEW*

One way in which a franchisee association can provide ongoing value to its members is by offering useful training on how to run a successful franchise business. This Action Task Force will be dedicated to reviewing business training opportunities within franchisee associations.

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* 8. If your chosen task force is full, would you be willing to be assigned to a different task force?

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* 9. Contact Information

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