Women Franchise Owners Fear the PRO Act
Franchising helped them become small business owners, and they don't want to be forced back under the corporate thumb.
If someone wants to buy a franchise, but isn’t sure which is the right fit, Megan Allen is the kind of person to call. Allen is a consultant with FranNet in Colorado; helping potential franchisees is her job. And these days, she’s getting many calls from moms who don’t want to return to the 9-to-5 grind.
“They are trying to figure out how to go from the flexibility of controlling their own schedule all day to going back to the office,” Allen says. “They got a taste of it. If you don’t feel well, you cancel something. If your kids come first, you go to the basketball camp. You can still do your job and make money, but also be there for the family.”
These women want to be their own bosses, and Allen is excited to help them — which is why she’s also angry about a looming law that could make it harder for them to achieve independence. The law is the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, which is currently being considered by Congress. It contains language called the joint-employer standard , which some legal experts say could force corporate franchise brands to become the employer of their individual franchisees’ staff. That would eliminate franchisees’ autonomy.
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