The Pitch

The next step Is to travel to their corporate HQ. They wanted $2,500 as good faith money to receive 3 days of their training and 3 days to ride in the field with their local agent to see how it was sold. The money would be applied to our franchise fee if we chose to sign on. The had their hook. So, I went.
My fellow recruits were top notch individuals. They included a CEO, former college basketball star and sports trainer, investment banker, and a headhunter from the Netherlands.
First day the trainer and current franchise superstar meets us in the lobby. We talk a little and I feel this guy is full of it up to his eyeballs. If these are the type of people its going to be a short visit.

Next Coincidence

Now I'm convinced I should at least take the next step. I ask counsel from my pastor and elder, both positive. My wife is in full agreement. So happens as I'm getting ready to go to visit the franchise and check out this place. I get a call from the local franchisee. He tells me to be wary of their numbers. But he wants to hire me as his salesman. HUM, I'm thinking this guys problem is he can't sell, maybe we can work together. Then in my small church group of only about 10 people I ask for prayer and guidance when I go to check these folks out. Turns out my elder and group leader not only knows local franchisee, the guy works out of his offices. Small world, coincidence or conformation?

The Call

Just a little background. I had been in transition for 3 years or so. I was reading "Purpose Drive Life, Hearing God, and following my own church's weekly material." I was seeking Gods plan for my life. I had read a book called Half Time that was about what to do for God in the 2nd half of your life.
I sat down to do my church's weekly material it was centered around a story about the mature years of a guy named Dave (my name) who was wondering what he could do with the rest of his life. I then get a call from a Dave in FL who was with this franchise. He then went on to say that this business gave him an opportunity to minister in the 2nd half of his life, he even mentioned the book halftime. He went on to say how much good could be done and how he made a great living. I started to see something unfolding.

chance of a lifetime

My wife and I had a little over 125k in our 401K and we were pushing 60. I was 19 years on my job and it was dying. The wife was in a miserable dead end job. So I prayed that something would break loose. I got a new offer from the "franchise finding company. A leadership and management training franchise that couldn't miss. I got a list of names of franchise owners who I could contact to see how they are doing. This is called "due diligence" or something like investigation.

So I called and everybody gave glowing testimonials as to how they were making a good living at this business, all said I could make money in only 3-6 months. Except when I got to the one guy who was already in my dfw territory.

Then I get "The Call" that changed everything.

next step

The franchise test came back and said I liked training and sales. They first put me in contact with some nut case PHD who told me that my test did not align with the profile test the franchise company had sent him. He then accused me of being crazy or a liar. Needless to say this was a short evaluation. They then really tried hard to sell me on their franchise finding company. But I couldn't see how I could sustain this business because they had a long delay between the time they had a client sign on to the time that they would get paid.

The next company they sent me to would eventualy ruin my life.

Franchise rip off

About 4 years ago I began to see my current business was getting me nowhere. So I began to explore my options. One of which was a franchise finding company. They promised to help me find a good fit for my skills, interest and investment level. I should have "smelled a rat" when one of their first 3 matches came up as their own company!!! Anyway the put me in touch with a company that would be a total rip-off.
(to be continued)

Bad business

I was suckered in by two companies that over promised and under delivered. They both bordered on fraud and deception. I am considering blogging their names. But for now I am going to just going to begin to recount my story...more to come.