International Law

Franchise Trade Shows

Image via Wikipedia

The Canadian Franchise Association has a checklist about how to maximize your return at attending a franchise tradeshow.

"Do your homework and research franchise systems, industries and markets.

Do develop a list of questions to ask and don't be afraid to ask them Do dress professionally - first impressions are important.

Do leave the kids at home but bring parents or other relatives if they are involved with the financing.  

Do take advantage of tradeshow seminars for new perspectives and information.

Don't expect to sign on the dotted line right away; this is only one important step in the process."

Most of this is just so much nonsense - trade shows are not designed to do anything but shill franchise product.

More importantly, there is no indication from the CFA on how to "research franchise systems", which is virtually impossible in the Canadian jurisdiction in which no franchise disclosure documents are publicly accessible.

There is no equivalent of the OpenFran.org project in Canada, nor is there likely to be one since no Canadian province has enacted registration legislation, except for Alberta which then revoked it.

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on September 15, 2008 (boomark / email).