Proposal could aid franchise owners

Restrictions on selling or transferring stores without the approval of national chains would be lifted for owners of franchise businesses in Florida, under a measure that drew quick opposition after being filed Tuesday.

The proposal (SB 750), filed by Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, also seeks to make it harder to terminate or refuse to renew contracts with franchise owners.

Latvalacalled the proposal “basic protections” for small family businesses. “No one is out there telling me as a small business person in the printing business that I can’t sell my business to anyone that I want to sell it to,” Latvala said.