While employers are liable for the actions of their employees (specifically speaking, they are “vicariously liable”), franchisors don’t have to be – that is, if they have the right provisions written out. Laws vary from state to state but if you are a franchisor it’s a very good idea to check-in with your contractual obligations regarding your relationship with the franchisees, specifically concerning hiring and firing.

If you’ve skimmed business news recently, you know that McDonald’s is in some hot water over some of its recent terminations. A lawsuit is being filed against a New York location for allegedly firing employees for their involvement in union activities, according to this Bloomberg piece. 

As a franchisor, it's always in your best interest to provide your franchisees with resources to help build the business. The tricky part about franchising is keeping everything -- from bookkeeping to social media to customer service -- the same across all locations. 

Being that we’re in the industry, we’d like to clear up a common misconception about franchises: they are not just sub shops and McDonald’s! One of the many great things about franchising is that it spans virtually every industry. From personal services to retail to business-to-business, you’ll find a franchise in any field you are interested in working in.

If you’re looking for new franchise owners for your growing brand, it’s important that they know how to find information about your organization and the opportunity. It’s great to have an announcement on your website, but that can’t be the only action you take. Interested franchise owners may be looking elsewhere for opportunities.