Carl Zwisler
Carl Zwisler, a veteran of the International Franchise Association, reflects on his work in developing the FTC Franchise Rule and other franchise regulations.
· 1851 Franchise· August 14, 2017
Regulator
Federal Trade Commission — page 9
Federal Trade Commission is a regulator in Burnaze's franchise knowledge graph, mentioned since 2015. 211 stories link here, each summarized from the original publisher. * The FTC blocked PlayPower's acquisition of BCI Burke, a rival playground manufacturer, citing concerns over anticompetitive effects [[2026-10-27 FTC Bureau of Competition Statement on Termination of PlayPower’s Acquisition of (321022)]]. * The FTC is suing to block PlayPower's acquisition of BCI Burke, alleging the deal will drive up prices and decrease innovation and quality for commercial outdoor playground equipment [[2026-10-19 FTC Sues to Block PlayPower’s Acquisition of Rival Playground Manufacturer Burke (a46031)]]. * The FTC has taken steps to preserve competition in the digital advertising ecosystem by requiring Publicis Groupe S.A. to maintain neutral access to LiveRamp Holdings Inc.'s services as part of its $2.2 billion acquisition [[2026-10-19 FTC Order Preserves Competition in Digital Advertising Ecosystem as Part of Publicis’s Acquisition of LiveRamp (cf8257)]]. * Premier Franchising Group and Franchise FastLane LLC settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for $1.85 million over allegedly deceptive claims in selling Premier Martial Arts franchises [[2026-10-08 Premier Franchising Group & Franchise FastLane settle with FTC (b0fe76)]]. * A federal court has permanently banned the operators of an alleged debt relief scheme from the debt relief industry, following an FTC allegation that the scheme's operators impersonated government and business entities [[2026-10-22 Court Permanently Shuts Down Illegal Debt Relief Operation Following FTC Allegat (fcaa47)]]. * The Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule requires franchisors to provide potential franchisees with a complete franchise disclosure document, which includes 23 key items related to the opportunity [[2026-10-20 Franchise Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore (Even If You Love The Brand) (3caa8f)]]. * The FTC Franchise Rule regulates financial representations, and franchisors must be careful not to make financial representations outside of what is formally disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document [[2026-07-14 Franchising Legal Pitfalls Earnings Claims and Item 19 FDD (9145fa)]]. * The International Franchise Association is pushing for the American Franchise Act, a bill that would set a single federal standard for joint employer status [[2026-09-16 Franchise Leaders Push Joint Employer Bill on Capitol Hill (20d34d)]].
Also known as FTC
- Health & Fitness Association
- Daniel Guarnera
- Equinox
- Xponential Fitness
- IFA
- Rent-A-Center
- Accelerated Debt Settlement Inc.
Top 5 Things to Know about Item 19
Franchise attorney Kitt Shipe explains the importance of Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document, providing financial performance representations to prospective franchisees.
· 1851 Franchise· August 3, 2017
New openness encourages franchise sales, report finds
Trend alerts to assist you with your international expansion plans
· Global Franchise· August 3, 2017
How to Read a Franchise Disclosure Document: Business Background (FDD Item 2)
A franchisor's business background, including leadership experience, is explained in the Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 2.
· 1851 Franchise· July 13, 2017
Understanding the FDD Item 1: Franchisor’s Background
The Federal Trade Commission's Compliance Guide explains that Item 1 of the FDD requires franchisors to disclose background information on the franchisor and any affiliated companies.
· 1851 Franchise· June 16, 2017
Showhomes: The Momentum Positioning Them As Industry Leaders
Showhomes' financial performance representation (FPR) sets it apart from other franchised brands, providing valuable information for prospective franchisees.
· 1851 Franchise· June 1, 2017
8 Tips for Conducting Franchise Research to Make a More Educated and Profitable Decision
Eight crucial steps to follow for conducting franchise research to make a more educated and profitable decision, including learning about the franchise business model.
· 1851 Franchise· January 9, 2017
The Tipping Point - A Test For No Tip Policies and What It Means For Restaurant Employees
The traditional franchise sales model is failing due to prioritizing short-term success and undisclosed broker fees.
· 1851 Franchise· May 24, 2016
Periscope Broadcasts 200 Million Streams in Year One
The traditional franchise sales model is failing, prioritizing short-term success over long-term support for franchisees.
· 1851 Franchise· April 1, 2016
NRF Seeks to Lower Debit-Card Swipe Fee
The traditional franchise sales model is failing due to low funds to support small business owners and a lack of transparency in development teams.
· 1851 Franchise· March 25, 2016
February Jobs Report: U.S. Unemployment Holds Under Five Percent
Author shares her background and experience in public relations and content production.
· 1851 Franchise· March 7, 2016
To Rent Or Own? Five Factors To Consider As The Prospective Franchisee
A recent FTC settlement may signal a need for a reset in the traditional franchise sales model, prioritizing transparency and franchisee support.
· 1851 Franchise· January 6, 2016
10 Things You Should Know From Your FDD
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a crucial document for prospective franchisees to review before committing to a brand.
· 1851 Franchise· August 11, 2015
7 Tips to Improve your FDD
Franchisees can improve their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) by making it more descriptive and robust, as suggested by MSA Worldwide's Kay Ainsley.
· 1851 Franchise· August 10, 2015
10 Steps to Finding the Next Great Franchise Opportunity for You
Due diligence is essential when buying a franchise, involving self-evaluation, market research, and thorough review of the franchise agreement and financials.
· 1851 Franchise· July 31, 2015
How to Choose the Right Franchise Concept for You
Choosing the right franchise concept requires research and consideration of lifestyle and business goals.
· 1851 Franchise· June 2, 2015
The Dos and Don'ts of Franchise Websites
A well-designed franchise website can help level the playing field in the competitive world of franchising.
· 1851 Franchise· April 17, 2015
Burgers are (still) in: The popular segment shows no signs of slowing down
Franchisors prioritize short-term success over supporting small business owners, leading to undisclosed broker fees and operational inefficiencies.
· 1851 Franchise· January 27, 2015
McDonald's sued in discrimination case, new franchise questions arise
A traditional franchise sales model is failing, prioritizing short-term success over supporting small business owners and pushing a lack of transparency.
· 1851 Franchise· January 22, 2015