60 Franchisees File Petition Against Women's Fitness Franchise

According to a report on franchise discussion site FranchisePick.Com, hey have filed a petition for damages in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County against AABB FITNESS HOLDINGS, INC. (formerly known as CONTOURS EXPRESS, INC.), CONTOURS EXPRESS, LLC, and franchise broker JAMES E. HOGG (dba Franchise Visions), alleging fraud and breach of contract.

Among the numerous complaints, each of the plaintiffs allege that the Contours Express UFOC dramatically understated the cost of building out and operating a location, that the owners of Contours Express and their representatives also made “earnings claims” or verbal pitches regarding profitability, and that the typical franchisee’s working capital was exhausted soon after they opened their location and most could not service a debt load of 50 to 100 percent greater than they had been led to believe. The suit also alleges that Contours Express provided little or no support to the franchisees and once the stores were opened, very few of the franchisees were ever visited by representatives of the franchisor.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE: Franchise Dreams Becoming Nightmares for Many Fitness Club Owners

Related reading:

Is Contours Express a Great Fitness Franchise?

Is Curves for Women a Good Franchise Investment?

IS BUTTERFLY LIFE A GREAT FITNESS FRANCHISE?

Will the REAL Butterfly Life Franchise Please Wave Its Wings?

The Contours Express Second Amended Complaint for Damages document, Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) and other documents are available in the FranBest.Com franchise document library.

Discover the best coffee franchise opportunities at FranBest's Coffee Franchise Guide

Where to promote your top new franchise? Start with Top New Franchises.

New blog targets returning war vets

Franchise industry blogger Joel Libava has started a new blog, The Franchise Blog 4 Vets. 

According to Joel Libava, a Cleveland, Ohio franchise expert/consultant, this is the first ever blog on franchising that will be focused on war veteran’s returning home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas. 

Joel has real world experience helping veterans get into franchise/business ownership, including assistance in gaining discounts and advantages available to veterans through the VetFran program administered by several US Government agencies.   Joel also has been involved with the non-profit group, Disabled Veteran’s Associations, as an expert speaker for the past several years.
According to Libava:

“When veterans return from combat duty, they are given so many options; they need help sorting through them. In addition to traditional employment resources, this blog will help educate and inform veterans about franchising, and the opportunities that exist. Traditionally, veterans make excellent franchise owners, because of their intense process and procedural training designed to help them follow a plan. After all, the franchise model is all about following a plan.”

Libava hopes to help veterans around the country investigate the right franchise opportunities, and interested veterans can call Joel toll-free at 1-800-460-4299 to learn about this FREE franchise matchmaking service.

In addition to this new franchise blog, Joel also owns The Franchise King Blog, The Ohio Franchise Center Blog, and a franchise website, State Franchise Centers.com®.

College Hunks Sell California Franchise

The innovative junk removal company announces the sale of its first West Coast franchise.

(FranBest.com) Washington, DC – August 27, 2007 – College Hunks Hauling Junk (www.1800JunkUSA.com), the Washington, DC based junk removal company with franchises located in Orlando and Tampa, FL, recently sold its first West Coast franchise, an eight zone area development in San Francisco, CA. “With the completion of our proprietary software and centralized call center for our national number ‘1-800-Junk-USA,’ having a West Coast operation positions College Hunks Hauling Junk for expansion into every major metropolitan market in the country,” states Nick Friedman, College Hunks Hauling Junk President. College Hunks Hauling Junk recognizes the fact that they are not the first junk removal company to successfully franchise their concept. Vancouver based “Got Junk” has over 300 franchise locations.

READ ABOUT THE COLLEGE HUNKS FRANCHISE AT TOP NEW FRANCHISES

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Vote for College Hunks Hauling Junk as a Top New Franchise See what others are saying about the College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise. Read the Interview with College Hunk's Nick Friedman.

Discover the Top New Franchise Opportunities at TopNewFranchises.Com

Get the straight scoop on how to find the perfect franchise opportunity at FranBest.Com

Franchise Helps to Mobilize Older Americans

Sometimes rewarding franchise opportunities remain undiscovered because their appeal is hidden in plain sight. Take American Ramp Systems, for instance. I assumed they were in the “ramp” business: not exactly the sexiest of franchise concepts. But after receiving several calls from the persistent and earnest Ronn Dmitrik, I agreed to take a closer look. I soon realized I had overlooked a very compelling and undiscovered franchise opportunity. It turns out that ARS franchise owners are not simply in the ramp business. They are truly in the business of helping people in need, of removing the barriers that keep them from living life to the fullest. By helping others, ARS franchisees are achieving both financial and personal rewards for themselves.

Removing barriers, fulfilling dreams

Over 16 million Americans rely on wheelchairs or other devices to move from place to place, with increasing numbers of our aging population adding to that number every day. Some of these Americans are temporarily non-ambulatory, recovering from accidents, surgeries or sickness. Others will permanently rely on wheelchairs and other devices. Many of these individuals find the homes and buildings they once navigated with ease suddenly filled with insurmountable challenges and hostile barriers. Until a few short years ago, the available options consisted of permanent wood or concrete ramps that were logistically daunting and often economically infeasible.

An innovative, patented solution

American Ramp Founder Julian Gordon decided to change all that. An aeronautical engineer by training, Gordon devised and patented an innovative, low-cost modular metal ramp system that could be used for residential, commercial or municipal applications on either a temporary or permanent basis. After developing and refining the American Ramp Systems marketing, sales and installation systems, Gordon decided to make his system available to quality franchise owners. Today, there are more than 20 American Ramp Systems franchisees providing greatly needed ramp systems and rentals to individuals, groups and institutions in their communities.

Make a living. Make a difference.

American Ramp Systems franchise owners meet the needs of the fastest-growing demographic group in America: those 85 years and older. It’s estimated that by 2010, over 20% of the population will be members of this group. By offering both rental and purchase options, American Ramp Systems franchise owners also meet the needs for temporary and event-related ramps. ARS rentals enabled actor Christopher Reeve to reach the stage during his promotional tour, has made it possible for disabled veterans to visit the traveling Vietnam War Memorial, for students to accept their Harvard diplomas and for countless grandparents to spend holidays visiting their children and grandchildren. If you’re a people-oriented person looking for an opportunity to not only make a living, but to make a difference, the American Ramp Systems franchise is one you should look into.

Five New Franchises Analyzed at TopNewFranchises.Com

Introducing The Top New Franchises Interview Series. The Top New Franchises Interview series is designed to give prospective franchisees info and insight into some of the freshest new franchises to emerge in recent months and years.

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Interview With Maid to Sparkle's Chris CavazosRemember when doctors made house calls, fresh milk was delivered daily and service station attendants washed your windowshield? Maid to Sparkle is bringing back the Golden Age of Service... and cleaning up in the process. Maid to Sparkle President Chris Cavazos

Talkin' Trash With College Hunk Nick Friedman
The College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise is a breath of fresh air in the trash collection industry. If you've got $100K, Nick and Omar can make your lifelong dream of being a refuse relocation engineer a reality.
Nick Friedman, College Hunks Hauling Junk

Interview with Ho Math & Chess CEO Frank Ho
Frank Ho provides insight into his unique math tutoring franchise that makes learning fun, and his ultra-low-cost franchise that's going global. This is one Ho even Imus could love!
Frank Ho, Ho Math & Chess

Interview with A Designer's Eye President Stephen Fofanoff
A Designer's Eye President Stephen Fofanoff has his eye on franchising. He explains the vision behind his creative new home-based franchise opportunity, A Designer's Eye.
Stephen Fofanoff, A Designer's Eye

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Educational Interview with Chyten's Neil Chyten
What happens when a respected and highly effective regional tutoring program joins forces with one of franchising's largest growth networks? Learn for yourself: Neil Chyten, Chyten Educational Services

Do you know of a promising new franchise program launched within the last 5 years? If you would like to request an interview, or nominate a franchise professional to be interviewed, email Sean at info[at]franbest.com.

Is the iSold It UK Franchise in Trouble?

Editor's Note: This post is about a rumor that has not been confirmed by the company. We have contacted iSold It US & UK for confirmation or denial, and will post their response as soon as received.

Unconfirmed allegations are emerging that the UK franchise developer for iSold It, Entrepreneur Magazine's Top New Franchises for 2007, has been struggling and is now in voluntary receivership.

Franchise Pick reader CHANCE left this comment April 5 on a related post ( Is iSoldit a Great Franchise Opportunity? ):

...YES the UK area developer is belly up. Online Revolution Ltd The Head Franchisor of iSold It in the UK went into voluntary receivership today.

Here is one gov’t posting:

UK business credit reports, risk scores, annual account and company filings online from UK Data LtdCompany

Details - I SOLD IT ON EBAY GB LTD
Registered No.05597190
Address:60 STATION RD, QUENSFERRY, DEESIDE, CH5 1SX
Type:Private Limited with share capital
Incorporation Date:19-10-2005
Recent Changes:
27/03/2007 Dissolution or striking-off document filed - First notice from Companies House to dissolve company in 3 months

According to a post on AmITheOnlyOne.org, a website critical of the eBay drop-off franchise model and iSold It, claims "Information is scarce and choppy

but here's what we have so far":

Online Revolution the company that purchased the UK rights to franchise iSold it in England have effectively run out of money and fell into receivership today. The 2 company stores have closed their doors and the 5 privately franchised iSold It stores are all waiting for news about what we do now?

According to the post, seemingly written by someone in the UK, most of the staff at the UK head office were "sacked." The writer alleges that pressure is being exerted from iSold It to keep the news quiet:

iSold It has put a gagging order on Franchisees talking to anyone about their businesses or even sounding negative to one another. Yet, as always they still continue to sell franchises!

Phillip Molloy the head franchise owner for the UK is starting to get worried and their rescue plans have serious flaws.

Related Posts:

Is iSoldit a Great Franchise Opportunity?

Has iSold It Halted Franchise Sales?

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Franchise Opportunities at Franbest.com
Coffee Franchise Guide at Franbest.com/coffee
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Best Undiscovered Franchises

Rockn' Interview with Rockn' Joe's CEO Kevin Brennan

Rockn' Joe Coffeehouse & Bistro is a unique, Rock & Roll & coffee themed franchise opportunity. The FranBest Coffee website, a new blog dedicated to coffee industry franchise and business opportunities, interviewed Rockn' Joe Coffeehouse & Bistro CEO Kevin Brennan about his vision for the Rockn' Joe Coffeehouse concept, his expansion plans and the details of the Rockn' Joe franchise opportunity.

Links:

Rockn' Interview With Rockn' Joe's Kevin Brennan

Information about coffee franchise opportunities

Information on franchising and franchise opportunities

Hollywood Tans Guarantees Leases (!)

One fact that we discovered during our recent visit to a Hollywood Tans Discovery Day is that Hollywood Tans guarantees the leases of its franchisees.  This is extremely rare thing for any franchise company to do, and is a tremendous advantage for Hollywood Tans franchise owners.

A Guaranteed Lease Can Mean Lower Rents
Because Hollywood Tans Corporate guarantees payments through the term of the lease, landlords have less risk than with a non-guaranteed tenant.  That puts us in a better negotiating position and can mean lower rents, waived fees, more favorable terms and more generous building allowances.

A Guaranteed Lease Can Mean Better Locations
When Hollywood Tans competes for a prime location, the franchisor's guarantee could make them a more preferred tenant, enabling them to secure more favorable locations.

A Guaranteed Lease Means Hollywood Tans Shares the Risk
There's no such thing as a risk-free investment, whether franchised or otherwise.  But Hollywood Tans is one of the rare franchise companies willing to put a signature right next to yours on your lease.  That shows the confidence Hollywood Tans has in the strength of their franchisees, their confidence in their site selection process, and their confidence in the strength of the Hollywood Tans concept... now and in the future.

The best way to discover whether the Hollywood Tans franchise is the opportunity for you is to attend a Hollywood Tans Discovery Day.  Click on here for more information and a list of upcoming dates.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE INSIDE HOLLYWOOD TANS EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Franchise Watch: Anthony's Kitchen Franchise

Link: The Latest U.S. Import: Franchise Fraud

Give us your tired, your weak, your franchise scammers and conmen...

I admit that prior to this morning the idea of a U.S./Canadian border fence seemed laughable. After reading the Taking Your Dough expose and watching the investigative CTV W-5 videos on how convicted Canadian fraudster Reza Solhi (AKA Anthony Solhi) has now brought his infamous franchising practices south of the border, I'm not only for building it, I'd suggest running 20,000 volts or so through it... [CONTINUE READING]