Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) – Mission Accomplished?
Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) under the FTC’s new Franchise Rule continue to be a good concept in theory. Unfortunately, reality plays a more important role and reveals an entirely different picture.
Here are some of my observations, based on twenty-eight plus years of experience in the franchise industry as a franchise attorney, franchise expert and former franchise owner. During this time, I’ve drafted, reviewed and negotiated over 500 Franchise Disclosure Documents.
Franchise Disclosure Goals
Franchise Disclosure Documents or FDD (formerly known as Uniform Franchise Offering Circulars) are a document containing twenty-three chapters of information. These disclosures are intended to give prospective franchise buyers enough pre-sale information so an intelligent franchise investment decision can be made before long-term contracts are signed, money changes hands and sizeable financial commitments are made. In most cases, a franchise investment has long-term financial consequences. It means putting everything on the line – savings, retirement accounts, home equity, etc. With all this at stake, it’s easy to see why the disclosures in the FDD are so important.
Aura Of Credibility
Attached as exhibits to the FDD are the franchise company’s audited financial statements, franchise agreement, and a list of operating (and departed) franchise owners. If the company elects to make a franchise “Earnings Claim,” that information will be set forth either in Item 19 or attached as another exhibit. The entire document is quite lengthy and can exceed several hundred pages. In certain states (known as franchise registration states like California, New York, Illinois, etc.) the FDD makes reference to being registered with the state. All these formalities creates an aura of credibility. Many franchise buyers assume a regulatory agency has reviewed and approved the franchise offering. Unscrupulous franchise companies engage in blatant misrepresentation, referring to their franchise registration with a state as that state’s “stamp of approval.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
Franchise Registration Realities
First of all, registration of a company’s Franchise Disclosure Document only Read more
Find a Multiple Car Insurance Quotes Online
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It is relatively easy to find a multiple car insurance quotes online thanks to the emergence of web sites for comparison style have created several companies. These websites means that you can deal with various policy options in a matter of minutes and in the comfort of your own home. All you have to do to get the list of policies is to answer your questions once and, of course, make sure you are completely honest in the answers they give you. Take what you say and look through the various vendors before arriving at a list ranked by price for those who believe that best suits your needs.
Note that it is unwise to accept only the cheapest auto ins cost and I think very well how to save some money as it is essential to actually read the terms and conditions before proceeding. This is because in many cases is cheaper because it provides the most comprehensive coverage as possible you want, and unfortunately often find this when you or another person makes a claim. The list of policies is cover a wide range of companies well known names that may not be as famous, but still able to give the right kind of coverage.
This is actually very useful because it is easy to see how much may have been paying only for a name when in fact the lesser-known companies as good and cheaper. It is certainly faster to use this method as now there is no need to call the different companies in all individual and answering the same questions over and over again. Now you can navigate through the options and quickly dismiss those that can be double the price of the other before restricting its scope to some selection options. If you live in Maryland, the Maryland consumer insurance guide will be great to read before you purchase the insurance in Maryland.
Starting A Greeting Cards Business – Retail
What business offers high profit margins with sales all year round? Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter, Valentines Day, Birthdays & Christmas are just some of the many occasions celebrated around the world and they all demand greeting cards and associated products.
Retailing greeting cards, small gifts, tags, ribbons, bows, key rings & fridge magnets all offer high profit margins. The minimum mark up is over a hundred percent but because the retail price is low, people do not mind paying a decent premium.
Most suppliers are happy to give thirty to sixty days credit whilst your customers pay cash! Cashflow is important in any business and this business offers Read more
FHA home loans for Buying a Florida home, ((97%w 540 FICO))
FHA home loans for Buying a Florida home.
Florida home buyers should know the many advantages of the FHA mortgage loan programs. FHA loans were created to help increase home ownership. For the Florida home buyer the FHA home loan program can simplify the purchase of buying a Florida home, making financing easier and less expensive than an other home loan program. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include:
Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.
Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.
Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:
No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 1 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase2 years after a Foreclosure.
To take advantage of the FHA program in Florida, give us a call 1-800-570-0448 or use our quick application at www.FHAmortgageFHALoan.com
Common FHA Mortgage Questions Why should I apply for an FHA home loan?
There are lots of good reasons to choose an FHA home loan over other Florida mortgage programs, especially if one or more of the following apply to you:
You’re a Florida first-time homebuyer. You want to keep your monthly payments as low as possible. You’re worried about your monthly payments going up You don’t have a lot of money to put down on a house. You’re worried about qualifying for a loan. You don’t have perfect credit.
If any of these things describe you, then an FHA home loan may be right for you. Why? FHA home loans offer many benefits and a level of security that you won’t find in other loans including:
Low cost: FHA home loans have competitive interest rates because the federal government insures the loans for lenders.
Lower down payment requirements: FHA home loans have a low 3.5% down payment and the money can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization as a gift.
Easier qualification: Because FHA insures your mortgage, FHA mortgage lenders may be more willing to give you FHA home loan terms that make it easier for you to qualify.
Less than perfect credit: You don’t have to have perfect credit to get an FHA home loan. In fact, even if you have had credit problems, such as a bankruptcy, it’s easier for you to qualify for an FHA home loan than any other mortgage program.
More protection to keep your home: The FHA has been helping people since 1934. Should you encounter hard times after buying your home, the FHA has many options to keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.
FHA insures loans for lenders against defaults - it does not lend money or set interest rates. For the best interest rate and terms on a mortgage, you should compare mortgages from several different lenders. An FHA-approved lender can help you start the loan application process.
You may use an FHA-insured mortgage to purchase or refinance a new or existing 1- to 4-unit home, a condominium or a manufactured or mobile home (provided it is on a permanent foundation).
What kinds of FHA home loans does FHA offer?
Fixed-rate loans - Most FHA home loans are fixed-rate mortgages (loans). The advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that your interest rate stays the same during the loan period, so you know exactly how much your monthly payment will be.
Adjustable rate loans – First-time homebuyers can be a little stretched financially. With FHA’s adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), the initial interest rate and monthly payments are low, but these may change during the life of the loan. FHA uses the 1-Year Constant Maturity Treasury Index (CMT) to calculate the changes in interest rates. An index is a measure of interest rate changes that determine how much the interest rate on an ARM will change over time.
The maximum FHA home loan that the interest rate on your FHA home loan may increase or decrease in any one year is 1 or 2 percentage points, depending upon the type of ARM you choose. Over the life of the loan, the maximum interest rate change is 5 or 6 percentage points from the initial rate. The advantage of selecting an ARM is that you may be able to expand your house-hunting value range because your initial interest rate will be low, as will your payment. Click for a more in-depth explanation…
Purchase/Rehabilitation loans – Sometimes you might see a home you’d like to buy, but it needs a lot of work. FHA has a loan for rehabilitating and repairing single-family properties called the SF Rehabilitation Loan program (203k). You can get one loan which combines the mortgage and the cost of repairs. The mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property with the work completed. The advantage of this loan is that you can buy a home that needs a lot of work, but have only one mortgage payment, and you can complete the repairs after buying the home.
Read more about these loans.
Indian Reservations and Other Restricted Lands – A family who purchases a home under this program can apply for financing through an FHA-approved lending institution such as a bank, savings and loan, or a mortgage company. To qualify, the borrower must meet standard FHA credit qualifications. An eligible borrower can receive approximately 97% financing and use a gift for the downpayment. Closing cost can be financed; covered by a gift, grant or secondary financing; or paid by the seller without reduction in value. More…
How do FHA-insured loans compare to Read more
Free Tanning Salon Business Plan
Free Tanning Salon Business Plan for Loans
Obtaining Business Financing
When obtaining a business loan for a tanning salon business, it is imperative that you have a properly structured business plan that will assist you in showcasing how you intend to operate your Tanning Salon, how the business will operate, how you intend to market the business, the anticipated financial results of your company, and how you intend to repay your debt obligations. This sample loan business plan will provide you with the framework that you need in order to acquire a business loan for starting or expanding this type of business.
Executive Summary
Introduction
When obtaining a business loan for a tanning salon, it is imperative that your business plan has a clear and concise executive summary that provides an outline of what are seeking to accomplish, how much capital you are seeking to raise, the management biography of the business owner, and an overview of the anticipated profit and loss statements of the business. Here is an example of how the title paragraph should be written:
Tanning Salon, Inc. (“the Company”) is seeking a business loan of 0,000 in order to launch the operations of a tanning salon business that will be based in San Francisco, California. The Company was founded in (Insert Year). The business was founded by Mr. John Doe.
Products and Services
In the next segment of the business loan and business planning document, you should showcase the products and services that you will be providing to the general public. For instance:
The Tanning Salon will provide a number of high technology tanning beds that will be used by the general public. The Company will generate revenues from the ongoing usage of these tanning beds on a daily basis and through the sale of tanning salon passes that will allow frequent patrons to pre-pay for their tanning salon needs. The business will generate extremely high gross margins from its services.
The third section of the business plan will further document the services provided by Tanning Salon, Inc.
Business Loan Terms
Now it is time to discuss the anticipated terms of the business plan that you are seeking. An example paragraph of how this is stated:
At this time, Mr. Doe is seeking a conventional business loan in the amount of 0,000. The interest rate, loan terms, and loan covenants are to be determined during negotiation. However, this business plan assumes that the business will receive a seven year business loan with a seven percent interest rate due on the outstanding principal balance.
Management Biography
Now that the summary of the business has been provided, it is time to provide a brief overview of the owner of the business. An example paragraph summing up the owner is as follows:
Mr. Doe is a highly experienced business person that has years of experience regarding the direct ownership and management of business. He will be able to effectively bring the operations of the Tanning Salon to profitability while ensuring that the business loan’s payments and its covenants are met at all times.
Financial Statements
The most important thing to your lender when applying for a business loan is how you intend to repay the bank. In this section of the business plan, you should provide an overview of the finance’s of the business discussing the anticipated revenues, expenses, and profits/losses. You can also discuss the applicable collateral within the business plan that will be used to secure your business financing.
Expansion Plans
One of the most important aspects of your business plan is how you intend to expand the business over a three to five year period. Banks and finance companies always want to see that the business will experience a moderate to strong level of growth. This is especially true in business lending because as your business grows the cash flow that secures your business loan will decrease proportionality against your monthly credit obligations. An example of how this is stated is as follows:
The Tanning Salon will continue to expand through organic means including increasing the Company’s advertising budget via the reinvestment into the after tax cash flows of the business. Additionally, if the business is highly successful then the Company may seek to establish additional Tanning Salon locations after the third year of operations.
The Financing
Use of Business Loan Proceeds
In this section of the business plan you should focus on how the proceeds of the business loan will be used. An example of this would be as follows:
Tanning Salon Location Establishment – ,000
Tanning Salon Beds – ,000
Working capital – ,000
Management Equity
In this section of the business plan you should discuss the percentage ownership of the business among the owners of the business. For example:
Mr. Doe will own 100% of the Tanning Salon
Board of Directors
When applying for business financing, the bank will also want to know who serves as the board of directors. For small businesses, usually the owner serves as the director of the business. An example of how this is worded:
Mr. Doe will be the sole director of Tanning Salon, Inc.
Exit Strategy
Any bank or financing company is also going to want to know what you intend to do with the business over a set period of time. Many business owners will develop and expand a business with the intent to sell the company to a third party at a later time. When drafting this part of the business plan you should focus on what you intentions are in regards to potentially selling the business. This is often worded as:
Mr. Doe would most likely sell the Tanning Salon to a third party for a significant earnings multiple. Tanning Salons usually sell for approximately one to three times earnings given the financial strength of the business. In this event, the business would be sold by a business broker and the business loan sought in this plan would be repaid according to the covenants of the business loan agreement.
Products and Services
When developing a business plan that is appropriate for obtaining a business loan or other business credit facility you need to clearly showcase the services or products that you will be offering to the general public. An example of how this section is worded goes as follows:
As stated in the executive summary, the Tanning Salon will generate ongoing and highly predictable streams of revenues from the ongoing sale of tanning salon services to the general public. The business will charge per session in one of the Company’s tanning booths. At all times, the business will follow all state and federal regulations regarding the operations of tanning salons.
The business will generate additional revenues from the sale of prepaid tanning salon packages for regular patrons.
Industry and Market Analysis
The Current State of the Economy
It is important to let your financial institution know that you are well apprised of the financial situation of the general economy when you are applying for a business loan. This is especially true in today’s environment where lending has become more difficult and will remain more difficult in the foreseeable future. Specifically, you should gear this section of the business plan analysis towards the industry that you are operating within. For example:
The current economy has remained difficult over the past few years. However, Tanning Salons tend to remain economically stable as individuals continually seek to have quality tans in regards to approving their appearance. As such, the tanning salon will be able to remain cash flow positive and profitable in any economic climate.
The Tanning Salon Industry
In addition to providing your business loan officer with an understanding of the general economy, it is important that you showcase that you have an equal understanding of the industry in which you are operating within. As such, you will need to provide you business loan institution of a brief overview of your industry and any potential changes that may affect the way that your company does business. An example of how an industry overview is as follows:
Tanning Salons have increased tremendously in popularity over the last ten years. More and more people are frequenting these businesses as people have less time to obtain a tan by sitting outside. Additionally, the importance of people’s outward appearance has become more important in the last decade, with more men and women trying to obtain a youthful look. With these changes in taste, the growth of the tanning salon industry has swelled. There are over 8,400 companies operating within the United States that own, operate, and manage tanning salons. Gross revenues for this industry have now exceeded billion dollars, and the yearly growth rate of this business has exceed 8% for each of the last five years. On an aggregate basis, the industry employs more than 100,000 people and provides
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