The Boston Business Journal reported today that Boston Market, co-created by Boston-based franchise guru George Nadaff, is being sold to Sun Capital Partners Inc.McDonald’s Corp., the Illinois fast-food giant that owns Boston Market, is selling the franchise to the Florida buyout firm to focus on hamburgers. As of June 30, 2007, Boston Market’s total assets and total liabilities were $180 million and $89.1 million, respectively, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Boston Market currently has 630 locations in 28 states. In early August 2007, McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Boston Market. The company expects to complete the transaction in the third quarter 2007 and does not expect to record a loss. McDonald’s acquired Boston Market’s operations for $176.2 million in May 2000. Since then, McDonald’s has pared down its partner brands, shedding Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMGB), Donato’s Pizza and its stake in Fazoli’s Italian fast-food restaurants. “It was more a distraction than anything,” Morningstar analyst John Owens said of Boston Market. “McDonald’s is really singularly focused on the Golden Arches, so this was not a surprise to me.” Sun Capital, which now owns Fazoli’s, has a portfolio that also includes bakery chain Bruegger’s Enterprises, Garden Fresh salad restaurants and cheese-and-meat retailer Hickory Farms. Two years earlier, Boston Market had run out of cash to pay creditors and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Boston Market Corp., founded as Boston Chicken in 1985, expanded under the wing of franchise specialist Nadaff, who partnered with the founders in 1989. Cross Posted at: Let’s Talk Franchising

So, you bought a franchise and it’s been successful for a few years and now you want to sell it.  The franchisor reserves some influence and financial discouragement.  The two biggest considerations given to the franchisor are: Right of first refusal – the franchisor can match your highest legitimate offer and buy your franchise Transfer fee – a fee you must pay to the franchisor for the privilege of transferring your licensing rights and obligations to another party Sample Transfer fees: FOOD: Pizza Factory: $12,000 Quizno’s: $5,000 Dominic’s of New York: $1,000 + 6% of sales price Submarina: $1,000 Cheeburger Cheeburger: $12,250 Pizza Patron: $5,000 The Dugout: $5,000 Arby’s: $13,500 Doc Green’s Gourmet Salad: negotiated at time of sale Jerq’zine:  $10,000 Original Hamburger Stand: $250 Sub Station II: $5,000 Steak-Out: $18,750 Fazoli’s: Reaonable attorney, accounting, training and other related costs OTHER: Bartercard: 10% of sales price Herman’s World of Sports: $12,500 Sears Carpet and Upholstery: $3,000 – $6,000 (depends on market size) Stone Mountain Carpet Mill Outlet: $2,500 Screenz:  $5,000 Tax Centers of America: $1,000 Sports Clips: $25,000 Fantastic Sams: $20,000 or 10% of sales price (whichever is greater) Hair Cuttery: $5,000 ($0 if franchisee for 5+ years) Fastframe: 5-10% of purchase price  

VERY OUT OF DATE.  Do a search instead.  This was manually updated March 21, 2006 Companies Mentioned in Posts (likely incomplete):Automotive 1-800 RADIATORS Oil Butler Lube N’ Go On-Site-Lube Business & Home Services 1-800-WATER-DAMAGE Bartercard Garagetek Help-U-Sell Home Instead Homewatch Caregivers My Girl Friday PropertyGuys.com Sears Carpet & Upholstery Tax Centers of America Cleaning & Maintenance none Computer & Internet (some are listed in “Retail”) Screenz Food and Restaurant Arby’s Auntie Anne’s Blimpies Cheeburger Cheeburger Chipotle Dippin’ Dots Dream Dinners Doc Green’s Gourmet Salad Dominic’s of New York The Dugout Durango Grill Fazoli’s Fire of Brazil Fogo de Chao Goldstar Chili Jamba Juice Jerq’zine Krispy Kream Lenny’s Sub Shops Mauwi Wauwi Original Hamburger Stand Panaderia Taza Papa John’s Pizza Factory Pizza Patron Pretzel Time Quiznos Red Rock Chili San Francisco Soup Co Shane’s Rib Shack Skyline Chili Smoothie King Smotthie Planet Soup Nazi Steak-out Subway Submarina Sub Station II Super Suppers The Soup Box Supercuts Suzanne’s Kitchen We’re Rolling Pretzel Company Wetzel’s Pretzels Z Pizza Zoup! Fresh Soup Co (List all sub franchises) Health & Fitness Curves Liberty Fitness Home Building & Repair Services See “Business and Home Services” above Personnel & Staffing none Pet Retail and Services Camp Bow Wow Doody Calls The Pet Pantry Wag My Tail Interquest Detection Canines Pets Are Inn Retail Franchises Ace Hardware AuctionDrop Battery Plus Best Cuts GNC Educational Outfitters Fantastic Sams Fastframe Foot Solutions Friendly Computers Geeks on Call GNC Hair Cuttery Herman’s World of Sports Imagine This Sold Orbit Drop Play It Again Sports QuikDrop Roosters Men’s Grooming Centers Screenz Snips Its Sports Clips Stone Mountain Carpet Mill Tom’s Foods We the People Categories: eBay drop offs (generally) Hair Travel & Hotel none Industry Lists & Research 2004 Same Store Sales Growth of QSRs (quick service restaurants) Royalty and Advertising …