Desperate Times, desperate measures

We here at Frantrends Magazine (www.frantrends.com) are all about all things franchise related. So, I found great interest in a column in today's Arizona Republic detailing the measures franchisors are going to in order to continue franchise growth in a down economy. You can check out the column here:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/01/03/20090103biz-franchising0103.html

Andrew Johnson of the Republic begins the column, "co-signing loan papers, buying out operating contracts and modifying licensing fees are among the aggressive steps some franchisors are taking to help their franchisees weather the chilly economy."

Real estate issues and a struggle to maintain financing are seen as two major hurdles for would be franchisees.

What is your experience? If you are a franchise, is your franchisor reaching out to you in an effort to soften the blow of this down economy? If you are a prospective franchisee, are you finding real estate and financing major hurdles? And if you are a franchisor, what are some ways you are being proactive in dealing with this current economic slowdown.

At www.frantrends.com I have written about the concerns in the Arizona Republic piece. Concerning financing I found out about an SBA program that has money waiting to be used, check out that story here http://frantrends.com/articles.php?aid=237. Also, if you are in the market for a business opportunity, I recently wrote a column on how Master investor Warren Buffet sizes up a business opportunity. You can find that piece at http://frantrends.com/articles.php?aid=219.