Welcome to the next phase of YTB 2.0.

A year ago YTB announced the “contemplation of a franchise” in a press release issued just before last years convention. Today that “contemplation” moves one step closer to “reality”.

We touched on this with Sunday’s newsletter and wanted impress on you how this phase of YTB 2.0 will change how many perceive our model. By this time you have come across people who have a difficult time understanding and accepting Network Marketing as a legitimate business model. People don’t actually know that the nations oldest Network Marketing Company started as the California Perfume Company back in 1886. (In 1939 they changed their name to Avon.) Mary Kay is another example of a very powerful and stable MLM that not only markets to the same demographic, but was founded 46 years ago in 1963. Neither company has run out of woman to recruit, while basically limiting both companies to half the world’s population. (There may however be a few males mixed in with either company.)

Yet there are those that fear that someone will be crushed by a huge pyramid when there is no one left.

The suit filed by California was a perfect example of the ignorance our society has surrounding MLM Models. Without verifying, without even looking at our two models, the “Description of the Action” in the settlement stated “Defendants’ marketing scheme effectively requires participants to purchase a website from Defendants and pay monthly fees for the opportunity to recruit others”.

You know that’s not true; we know that’s not true. (Not to mention illegal.) The fact remains however, that because California said so, a portion of society will take this as fact instead of verifying if a statement has value.

Even now, with California behind us, with YTB still standing, still sending out checks, still winning awards, still growing as a travel company, there are those that still allow a tiny portion of society to dictate what they think and what they believe.

If you’re reading this right now you have endured a smear campaign of ignorance and fear mongering that included false claims of a gigantic pyramid scheme which both pro and con believed would finish the company. We want to congratulate you for holding on to your dreams, your vision, and your beliefs. Nobody should have the power to take that away from you, and we know many have tried.

It’s time to raise the bar. It’s time to look for better quality, better intelligence, and better business minds.

We now have a tool in place that can turn the tables, promote professionalism, character, and strength and it starts with you.

Moving forward, all potential California participants are required to wait 14 days before they are able to purchase a YTB Travel Store, or become an Associate who sells Travel Stores. So what does the 14 Day cooling off period have to do with Franchises? We’re glad you asked. (And even if you didn’t we’re going to tell you anyway.)

During this time, potential participants will be given all the facts and figures concerning the purchase of a franchise. In the settlement agreement which was filed with the courts the Description of the Action it states:

“Defendants have operated an on-line travel agency franchise without having registered as a franchise with the California Department of Corporations, in violation of California Corporations Code Section 31005 et seq.;”

We didn’t realize that we bought an on-line travel agency franchise until this was documented in the settlement. This is however a claim (Description of the Action) documented in the settlement filed with the courts.

We found the following reference in Franchising for Dummies by Michael Steid, and Dave Thomas. We’re NOT using this reference because we consider you a dummy, but because of its ability to describe franchising in a clear concise manor that we believe everyone will understand.

“Included in the regulations governing the sale of franchises is a cooling-off period called the ten-day rule. Franchisors are required to give their prospects a copy of the UFOC the first time they have a “personal” face-to-face meeting to discuss the purchase of the franchise, although most franchisors will provide the UFOC much earlier in the course of their discussion with a prospect. Franchisors must wait a minimum of ten business days after giving a prospect the UFOC before allowing the franchisee to sign the franchise agreement or pay any money to the franchisor. The purpose of the ten-day rule is to give you time to think about your decision.”

Please note that the 10 day rule requires 10 business days to expire. During the course of 10 business days you will have two weekends during that time for a total period of 14 days. If you would like to describe this as “10 business days” instead of “14 days”, you are welcome to do so, just as long as the word “business days” is made clear not to include Saturday or Sunday. (Six of one; a half dozen of the other.)

As we moved forward, the Settlement made with California also states:

8. Registration as a Franchise

No later than 30 days from the entry of Judgment, Defendants shall see the approval of the California Department of Corporations (DOC) and shall make their best efforts to obtain approval from the DOC to sell franchises. Any additional conditions or restrictions that my be required or imposed by the DOC for Defendants’ operation of a franchise shall also be required of or imposed on Defendants as part of this Judgment. If the DOC grants its approval for Defendants to sell franchises in California, Defendants shall begin offer such franchises for sale no later than 90 days from the date of the DOC approval. Neither the decision by the DOC regarding Defendants’ application to sell franchises in California, not the timing of that decision shall affect Defendants’ obligation to comply with any of the previsions of this Judgment.

There are 14 States that require Franchise Disclosures which include California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Because of the one time expense of creating such materials, and our belief that a franchise model will increase retention because of it’s perceived value, YTB is moving forward with a franchise model both nationally and internationally.

This will take some time, and we do not know the exact date of the National completion at this time. However, once complete, YTB will be the largest franchise in history.

Some of you may be able to remember the 1984 Presidential Election between Walter Mondale and then sitting President Ronald Reagan. During the course of the debates that led up to the election, Mondale began to make Reagan’s advanced age an issue. President Reagan was the oldest President in history, and some of his staff commented that he was tired after the first debate with Mondale. In their second televised 90-minute debate in Kansas City, Reagan and Mondale debated on international policy and national defense.

Again the issue of age came up during the debate.

Reagan in his best awe shucks tone said, “I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.“

Many didn’t like Ronald Reagan. (And you may be one of them.) Ronald Reagan was however a master in reframing and turning the tables on his opponents both within the political arena and around the world. Successful people and businesses turn apparent weakness into strength. They change history, and they change lives. We see California’s weakness and have now turned it into a strength moving forward.

Will everyone see it? Absolutely not. We were right on mark with the resurgence of activity and excuses on the forums, boards and blogs. Some still want to take your dreams and the power we talked about earlier. Some will still insist that YTB is nothing more than a “pyramid scheme”. Some will still laugh at you. If you want to give them that power, that’s entirely up to you. Why anyone would be willing to let others control and dictate what you think and how you feel is a completely foreign concept to us. Especially in a country such as ours during a weekend when we celebrate our Independence.

Remember, we need to raise the bar, not lower it. We joined YTB to pursue dreams not crush them. In the course of pursuing our dreams of owning a Home Based Business we bought into an MLM. What we’re going to end up with is a franchise.

The way we see it Scott was right…we’re bigger – stronger – superior in every way.

Who knew?

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Do You ZamZuu?

TSO #588629

Tags: Franchise, MLM Myths, Travel MLM, YTB International, YTB News

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under FTC, Franchising, Home Based Business, Home Based Travel Agent, Leverage, MLM, MLM Myths, Network Marketing, Travel Agent Issues, Travel MLM, Upgrades, YTB Marketing, YTB News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.