I am quite concerned about the direction that the parent company DFG has pointed the We The People Document Preparation franchise network (WTP-USA). Over the past 12-18 months, WTP-USA has all but eliminated any further investment or development in the WTP franchise document preparation network. Furthermore, there is a campaign underway to greatly reduce or totally eliminate the franchise network.

In 2005, there were approximately 175 We The People locations. Currently, there are about 40 locations remaining with from what it appears, direction to eliminate more. WTP-USA has been systematically eliminating franchise locations by using various questionable tactics. Many stores have had their franchise agreements cancelled (with no opportunity to cure) based on minor questionable breaches of the franchise agreement. Furthermore, WTP-USA has been, from what it appears, secret shopping store locations with the sole purpose of eliminating more locations, again without offering the opportunity to cure. Several locations deserved to lose their operating agreements, but many did not.

WTP-USA claims that they are eliminating the weaker, under producing locations in order to produce a smaller, stronger network. If that where true, why would WTP-USA allow one of its strongest franchise locations Walnut Creek, CA (as one example) to exit the system and also propose a meager exit opportunity to many other higher producing locations?

Many of the franchisees are everyday people who believed in the idea of We The People and invested a large portion of their money in the We The People business model and are running good legitimate businesses. If DFG and WTP-USA would like to exit the document preparation business, why not do the right thing by proposing a fair buy-out of the remaining locations and stop the underhanded tactics? Why not compensate the owners, many of which invested entire life savings into this business?

To date, it seems DFG & WTP-USA would rather use its might and force the small mom & pop businesses out rather than negotiate fairly with each franchisee. If DFG wants a Divorce from the document preparation business, why not file the papers and agree to a fair settlement?