“Business in a Box” or SCAM in a CAN?

An interesting thing recently occurred.  I filed a request with a State’s Attorney General requesting the investigation of a particular business that was operating and offering a product within their jurisdiction. I received a nice thank you in the mail from the Attorney General’s office along with a brochure covering “What you should know about purchasing a franchise”.  I hadn’t told them it was a franchise, nor had I told them it was a business opportunity. I only described the offering by the organization and they apparently assumed it was a franchise.

What is most interesting is that the organization I was referencing adamantly denies being a franchise, and instead wants to be known as a business “opportunity” program.  This is contradicted by the fact that they advertise in “Franchise Opportunity” areas, solicit potential buyers in “Franchise Opportunity” listings, and seek to align themselves with  franchise sellers in the hope of enticing “would be” franchisees to purchase a membership.

So when does a business “opportunity” become a franchise and when does a franchise become a business “opportunity”?

[Scam in a CAN] [More CAN SCAM] [NOT a Franchise?]