Investments and Business Opportunities Franchise & Business Opportunities
Microsites
Facts for Consumers
- Buying a Franchise: A Consumer Guide
[PDF]
Explains to consumers how to shop for a franchise opportunity, including what questions to ask before they invest. Describes potential benefits — such as brand recognition, training, and support — but also the costs, obligations, and risks that a franchisee may face. 8.5"x11", 18 pages, color.
- Could Biz Opp Offers Be Out for Your Coffers?
[PDF]
[en español]
Explains the importance of getting pre-investment information in writing, and researching other aspects of the business' performance by interviewing other people who have bought into the program. 8.5"x11", 4 pages.
- Franchise and Business Opportunities
[PDF]
[en español]
Explains the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule. 8.5"x11", 4 pages.
- Medical Billing Opportunities: Worth a Second Opinion
[PDF] [en español]
Medical billing opportunity promoters often misrepresent earnings potential and don't provide key, pre-investment information required by law. 8.5"x11", 4 pages.
- Net Based Business Opportunities: Are Some Flop-portunities?
[PDF]
Cautions consumers about web-based business opportunities that promise more than they can possibly deliver, and what you can do to protect yourself. 8.5"x11", 4 pages.
- The Bottom Line About Multilevel Marketing Plans and Pyramid Schemes
[PDF]
Explains how to spot the warning signs of an illegal pyramid scheme and gives tips on evaluating the trustworthiness and value of a multilevel marketing opportunity. 8.5”x11”, 4 pages.
Consumer Alerts
- Answering the Knock of a Business 'Opp' [PDF] [en español]
- Buying a Janitorial Services Franchise: Making a Clean Sweep
[PDF]
- Lotions and Potions: The Bottom Line About Multilevel Marketing Plans [PDF]
- Churches Cheated in Opportunity Scam [PDF]
Warns African-American churches that con artists are targeting them with the offer of “free” equipment or services if the church will sign a lease and make payments that will then be covered by a sponsor. Explains that once scammers get access to the church’s bank account, they make oversize withdrawals or clean it out. 8.5”x11”, 1 page.
- The Secrets of Mystery Shopping Revealed [PDF]
Promotional Items
Legal Resources
- Guidance Documents: Franchise and Business Opportunities
Includes reports, rules and acts, compliance information, and workshops.
