entremanure

[Actual Crime Scene Photo]
As I catching up on my car wash trade magazine reading, I perused the detailed account of the rapido rise and mas rapido demise of the Rapido Rabbit car wash franchise.

Seems that no one has been able to create a national car wash franchise, especially beloved car wash training guru Steve Gaudreau, the owner of the Muerto Rabbit itself. The car wash industry is a swell bunch of folks... read some of the posts in which they come not to praise Rapido, but to bury it... they praise Steve for being a good guy while dancing on the bunny-size grave of his failed chain.

In this article, Steve thinks that maybe he should have had an established, profitable prototype in place before he started selling franchises. But hey, Steve, that's crazy talk! If someone will plunk down a franchise fee, it must be viable, right?

Well, there are several companies trying to build that national franchise chain, including: (strangely enough:) National Car Wash, Spot-Not, Cactus Car Wash, and (I kid you not) Goo Goo Car Wash.

What do you think? Should a company be required to have a track record and profitable track record before selling a franchise or business opportunity? Place a comment below.