System and Method for Franchise, Finance, Real Estate, And Supplier Relationship Management

Abstract

A system and computer-implemented method for delivering documents associated with a commercial transaction using a computer in communication with a computer network include receiving documents associated with a designated commercial transaction from a first party via the computer network, storing the documents for subsequent access via the computer network in a computer readable storage device, notifying a second party that the documents are available via the computer network, and logging a date that the documents are available to the second party in a log file stored on the computer readable storage device. The system and method may also include receiving a request from a second party via the computer network to review documents for the designated commercial transaction, allowing access to the documents by the second party via the computer network; and logging a date that the documents are accessed via the computer network.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 113,568 filed Apr. 2, 2002, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 280,133, filed Apr. 2, 2001, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IN DISCLOSURE[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates generally to a sales and service support system allowing Franchise Entities, Finance Entities, Real Estate Entities, and Prospects to interact electronically.[0005...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an electronic system and method for managing Franchise, Finance, Real Estate, and Supplier relationships. It aims to streamline the process of buying and selling franchises by providing a faster timeline, integrating information, simplifying legal compliance, managing finances, selecting real estate, and enhancing marketing efforts.

Problems solved by technology

One of these challenges is a lengthy timeline (sometimes a year or longer) between the time a Franchisor communicates with a Prospect (a prospective Franchisee) for the first time, to the time that the Franchise is sold and a store is opened.

There are several deficiencies in currently available systems and methods for assembling and delivering Prospects to Franchisors, Finance Entities, Real Estate Entities, and equipment and supply vendors.

The problem with this approach is that information is extensively duplicated.

There are other problems with application-specific data storage.

Over time the accuracy and uniformity of the data deteriorates.

In addition, the use of application specific data storage requires more data entry and more storage space.

In addition, the present system does not account for desired requirements for Prospects considering a Franchise.

The initial request form the Prospect completes usually does not account for these desired limitations and does not pre-qualify the Prospect based on these criteria.

This is often difficult for the Franchisors due to the manner in which old UFOC's are stored.

Document storage for the Franchisors and government agencies has become a critical issue.

Since the Prospects are generally not knowledgeable on how to find and select real estate based on the Franchisor's demographic requirements and their need to filter out Franchise locations already operating within their location of interest, many sites are usually submitted to the Franchisor for approval that do not meet the Franchisor's requirements.

Often the Prospects drop out of the process out of frustration.

In addition, the sales performance of Franchise development departments and lead generating sources, as well as advertising campaigns have historically not been analyzed and tracked effectively.

This typically requires a series of paper-based forms and ad hoc systems that generate relatively slow feedback to sales personnel.

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