Category Archive

The problem: Franchise professionals are very busy, but they know that they are missing important information that is crucial to their business. The biggest problem has been that there is a lack of convenient meeting places for these franchise professionals to discuss solutions with their colleagues on a regular, reliable and consistent basis. The solution: The Austin Franchise Association. The …

When was the last time you took a good hard look at your operations manual? If you are like most franchisors, you may not be able to remember the last time. You should be reviewing your operations manual throughout the year to incorporate new products, services, policies, and procedures that impact the franchise system. Because franchise systems grow and change …

Face it, every franchisor wants to sell franchises, but are they following all of the rules when doing so? The Federal Trade Commission and various states have laws that relate to the sale of franchise opportunities.  Although the FTC does not require registration of the FDD or franchise sellers, in registration states a franchisor must give a list of the …

To protect its Intellectual Property Rights (“IPR”) by demonstrating that certain information qualifies as a trade secret, companies should consider the following: 1. Develop and Implement an Overall Intellectual Property Rights Protection Program. Whether you are just starting out or are a multinational company with enormous revenues, an effective IPR protection strategy or program (“Program”) is critical to a competitive advantage. The …

Are you looking to buy a franchise or become a franchisor, or do you simply want to talk with an experienced franchisor attorney or franchisee attorney?  If so, you should attend the Dallas Franchise & Business Opportunities expo on October 15 and 16, 2011. For more information and for your free ticket, click HERE. If you cannot attend the Dallas …

Everyone knows the value of a trademark.  If you have eaten at a local fast food restaurant or taken a sip of any one of a number of popular drinks, you probably did so because that companies trademark or servicemark has somehow implanted in your memory the message that you like or crave that “thing.”  What you may not realize …

When Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen opened their first Firehouse Subs restaurant in 1994, they say they had a passion for selling delicious sandwiches and providing great service. In the beginning, their ambition was to open a single restaurant, but they received so much early success that it wasn’t long before they decided to get the franchising ball rolling. Now, …

Join our franchisee attorneys and franchisor attorneys at the 2011 West Coast Franchise Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center this November 4-6 for a fun filled, educational romp through the world of franchising.  Learn from our franchisor attorneys about what it takes to be a franchisor and the finances involved. Find out from our franchisee attorneys what to look for when …

Experts in the marketing and advertising industries will tell you that branding is more than just a fancy logo. Creating an effective brand for your company communicates what your company does and ultimately determines the thoughts and feelings the consumer has about your products or services. Creating an identity for your company takes a lot of time, money, and dedication, …

Some franchise owners think their hard work is done once they have established their business and begin to turn a profit. Even after overcoming this initial hurdle, however, it is important to continue to grow the franchise into something bigger and better. At Shelton & Power, LLC, it is our job to provide franchise law services that help business owners …