The several Franchise vans we have had round here lasted about six months each on average. I think that says it all.
Oven cleaners are the same, the oven cleaner I was chatting to before Christmas said he was the last one left of seven franchisees, but he was doing Ok because he was still getting passed any enquiries from the ones who had folded but as the yellow pages get replaced all that will die off.
Ian's way of doing it works and works well but he's a one off. Mainly because he knows his business and he's in it for the long haul.
My impression of most of the franchise deals that have been pushed at franchise shows and in the magazines was that they were just fast buck swindles by fly by night cowboys trying to flog them. They had no real credentials in the business they were just looking for any old business idea to franchise and window cleaning struck them as an easy option
Thats the basis of my cynicism. If the deal is good and fair to both sides then I am all for it.