Having said that, it’s also true that the whole problem could have been avoided by if the perspective franchise had simply spent the lousy $500 for a quick [and I do mean quick!] review by a Financial Analyst.
As a matter of fact, I did a review on one!

My friends’s wife frequented the one in Manchester, NH and liked it. I live nearby and drive by the store all the time, so I stopped in. The first thing I noticed was a large multi-thousand dollar sign outside, and tens of thousands of dollars of store fit up inside. I also observed retail prices that were not enticing. I also suspected low margins, and witnessed low sales in the store.
I went back to my computer checked into the franchise fees and set up costs, which were astronomical. Well over a quarter million.
This entire exercise, including the visit in the store and the visit on the web took under an hour. And yes, that includes drive time!
I called my friend’s wife and said “enjoy them while you can, they’ll be gone in 6 months”

It was a very simple calculation, at least for me.
A. Ultra-high star up costs (documented on company web site)
B. Low sales
C. Low margins
D. Doubtful stream of repeat customers because of pricing
E. No observed value added from the mother ship. It was nothing more than a nice kitchen that was open to the public

And yes, that store was closed within 6 moths.
I never talked to the owners, but I can easily speculate that crushing operating costs and wierd franchise agreements lurked.

Again, this all could have been avoided, but for somebody not spending the $500 to have it looked at independantly.
What a shame.

Bill:

I agree that people should have known this was a risky, unproven concept. However…

This franchisor appears to have been selling unregistered franchises in violation of franchise laws.

This franchisor was reportedly making illegal earnings claims and providing bogus numbers.

This franchisor was simultaneously marketing advertising services to independent MAKS… potential competitors of their own franchisees.

Gambling is one thing, but the dealer’s still not allowed to cheat the players.

Would complain about losing in what you learned was a rigged game?

These people opened meal prep franchises without doing their homework, then whined when it fell flat.

In the case of the Clifton Park franchise, there were THREE meal prep businesses in one small town alone. What did they think would happen?Overnight success? It’s common sense, people!

They gambled and lost. Welcome to the world of small business in today’s economy.