Texas franchisees launch new association

Nation's Restaurant News, Nov 15, 1993 by Ron Ruggless

SAN ANTONIO -- A diverse group of Texas franchisees are banding together to launch a new association that not only would give them more political weight with state lawmakers but also would help them communicate more effectively among themselves.

"The idea behind it is to create an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas and information between franchisees in Texas," explained Bill York, acting executive director of the fledgling Texas Franchise Association and administrative officer at Whataburger of Alice Inc., a 33-unit franchise based here.

The group now includes representatives of the foodservice industry, hair-care salons, and apparel and electronics retailing.

Chartered as a non-profit corporation earlier this year, the Texas Franchise Association is in the process of accepting memberships and forming its board of directors, York noted.

The seed for the organization was planted earlier this year when various business owners came together in support of franchisee legislation, sometimes dubbed "Taco Bill," in the Texas Senate, which eventually let the proposal die.

"The way some of the people who are the core of this thing met was during the lobbying and promotion of Senate Bill 195 in Texas," said Paul Silver of Austin, Texas, who owns Supercuts hair-care franchises in Houston.

"That's not the only reason that this started, but that was one of the first times that franchisees from different trademarks, crossed paths," said Silver, who also serves on the board of directors of the Chicago-based American Franchisee Association.

Lobbying is not the main reason for the association, he continued. "We think that just coming together to share concerns and just pool together for our leverage is probably the strongest, most compelling reason to participate.

"My interest is seeing what advantage we can gain from coming together and getting better economic leverage for ourselves," Silver said. He would like to see franchisees in the group be able to get banking and credit-card programs and more attractive insurance packages.

Meanwhile, the group is still formulating its mission, forming goals and gathering members. "All of us are doing it on the side as we get time," York explained. "If we can do nothing else but get individual franchisee associations communicating, we'll have accomplished what we set out to do."

"What's most distinctive about this is that it's the first time people from across trademarks have been involved," Silver said. "Most franchisees get really focused on their business -- not only just their industry but their trademark. They don't understand that there may be other solutions and opportunities out there that they haven't even considered."

The Texas Franchise Association has set membership dues ranging from $25 a year for single-unit franchise owners to $500 for professional affiliates.

The Texas Franchisee Association's address is 17890 Blanco Road, Building No. 1, San Antonio, TX 78232.