I invested in this pet service franchise, and paid my franchise fee in full and up front.
This was not a true franchise. I had to create the business by myself, with absolutely NO guidance from the franchise owner. My "training" week, I touched one dog, and did not operate the business as was described.
When developing the business and dealing with construction, architects, etc, this franchise owner was extremely brash, opinionated, and embarrassing in meetings, moreso fighting vs working positively on the project. When having zoning meetings, he stood and insulted township officials and nixed any possible chance of opening within their town. It was so disgraceful and embarrassing, we refused to invite him to further meetings.
When opening my business, I had 10 employees which I had to schedule. This franchise owner offered zero guidance for employee scheduling, as he had never had a single employee in his own business other than himself. I had zero managerial experience, so until things got settled, this was a complete fiasco.
Computer Software: This franchiser did everything on paper: nothing with computers. He scheduled all dogs by writing on a calendar. My facility was 3x the size of his: so this was no option. We had to find our own software and learn about it on our own. No guidance.
Website/advertising/marketing materials: We were given nothing but a faxed copy of on pamphlet. We had to create and write every piece of marketing material, advertising, website copy, etc. Nothing was given to us.
Veterinarian Information: I did not have an animal background when beginning this venture. I had to learn on my own about proper vaccinations, animal care, and more: no reading material was provided by this franchise owner: nothing but an "Idiots Guide to Dogcare" No kidding.
This franchise boasts about 24/7 care, with a human on site at all times for the protection of the animals within the facility. When I first opened and the franchise owner suggested we leave to go get dinner, I felt as if this was the first sign of lying to the customer. This franchise owner thought it was absolutely ok to leave the facility with animals inside, when we promised customers this wouldn't happen! I never let that happen again when I was there.
He breached his own contract and allowed a franchise to open near my facility, after speaking with me and agreeing that he wouldn't. When I had a meeting with him to express my desire to split from the franchise, he broke into my facility in the middle of the night, threatened my employees, and took all of my hard work (and money, as I was the sole investor), claimed it as his own, and continues selling franchises, using my facility and plans as the model for others.
I lost everything, and I partly blame myself and my trust in others. However, buyer beware, this is NOT a good investment, nor a good and decent human. Learn from my mistake.
Ultimately, there was no purpose of this franchise. I had to develop my own company, create its inner workings, and learn about how to operate all on my own. But you best believe, he wanted to make sure he got his royalty check.
When you buy into a franchise, you expect to be guided every step of the way. This franchise owner did not assist with the development of the space and clearly did not know how to guide the facility. Buyer beware, this man talks a talk, but does not walk the walk.
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