Franchisor Relief Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

For the past several days and weeks, we have been fielding numerous calls from association Board Members and Chapter Leaders looking for guidance in seeking relief and support from their franchisors, and in particular, looking for comparative guidance on how other franchisors are stepping up relief and support of their franchise networks. Candidly, reports we have been receiving are all over the map, ranging from genuine compassion to selfish greed. The AAFD has compiled the following survey to aggregate franchisor relief response efforts for the benefit of all of our chapters and affiliated franchisee associations.

We hope and expect you might find it helpful to learn how other franchisors have been responding to franchisee requests for relief and support in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. We are urging all of our chapters to respond to this survey so we can provide an effective and organized effort to negotiate maximum relief.

We kindly ask that you take a few minutes to complete this short survey in concert with your association leadership. Your responses will provide critical and valuable insight to you as well as all AAFD member associations as well as our general membership.

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* 1. Has your association reached out to your franchisor for relief in the wake of COVID-19 Pandemic?

Yes

If yes, how did they respond?

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* 2. Has your franchisor reached out to you?

Yes

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* 3. Has your franchisor reduced, abated or deferred royalties? (check all that apply)

Reduced or abated royalties for a period of time

Deferred royalties for a period of time

Provided monetary relief other than royalty abatement or deferral

Provided no royalty or fee relief

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* 4. With respect to question 3, how would you rate your franchisor's royalty or fee-relief effort?

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

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* 5. Has your franchisor reduced or abated your minimum royalty obligations?

Yes

Non-applicable

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* 6. With respect to question 5, how would you rate your franchisor's relief offer regarding your minimum royalty obligation?

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

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* 7. What is the current status of your business?

Still opened for business

Opened but offering alternative method of operations

Opened with limited services

Closed temporarily

Closed but offering community services

Closed permanently

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Has your franchisor worked with your association to offer alternative service or product opportunites?

Yes

If yes, please explain

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* 9. Has your franchisor been more open to a dialogue with your association as a result of the crisis?

Yes

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* 10. Does your franchise agreement contain a Force Majeure (Act of God) clause?

Yes

Unknown

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* 11. How would you rate your franchisor's response to the crisis?

	Very Poor	Poor	Fair	Good	Very Good
Compassionate and caring about our welfare	Compassionate and caring about our welfare Very Poor	Compassionate and caring about our welfare Poor	Compassionate and caring about our welfare Fair	Compassionate and caring about our welfare Good	Compassionate and caring about our welfare Very Good
Willing to work with us for the good of our brand	Willing to work with us for the good of our brand Very Poor	Willing to work with us for the good of our brand Poor	Willing to work with us for the good of our brand Fair	Willing to work with us for the good of our brand Good	Willing to work with us for the good of our brand Very Good
Has offered some relief	Has offered some relief Very Poor	Has offered some relief Poor	Has offered some relief Fair	Has offered some relief Good	Has offered some relief Very Good
Business as usual	Business as usual Very Poor	Business as usual Poor	Business as usual Fair	Business as usual Good	Business as usual Very Good
Enforcing the full terms of our agreement	Enforcing the full terms of our agreement Very Poor	Enforcing the full terms of our agreement Poor	Enforcing the full terms of our agreement Fair	Enforcing the full terms of our agreement Good	Enforcing the full terms of our agreement Very Good

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* 12. Any additional comments?

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* 13. We would appreciate your contact information. The survey results will be shared with our Franchisee Leadership Council members and our chapter leaders. Thank you.

Name

Chapter

Email Address

Phone Number