There is a dramatic growth in the number of "franchise consultants" in the industry as the barrier for entry isn't very high. California's Franchise Broker Bill (as flawed as it may be) is drawing more attention to the broker/consultant which I believe will spread to other states fairly quickly if it passes. As more consultants with limited training, a low ethical standard and a focus on closing a deal enter the field, there becomes less emphasis on the best interests of the franchise candidate. This approach damages the perception of the entire franchise model. If a candidate learns enough to decide that franchise ownership may not be the right fit, a good consultant should see that as a win and not as an incentive to convince the candidate to make a bad decision.