From franchising's infancy through today's dominance of the business model throughout our economy, McDonald's has been seen as the gold standard. It has been the leader in innovation, profitable operations, and keeping its dirty laundry out of the press. Indeed, in the first 25 years that I practiced, I talked to a grand total of two McDonald's franchisees who had issues, and both were rapidly resolved to everyone's satisfaction. McDonald's had a laser-like focus on keeping its franchisees, if not completely happy, at least satisfied with their performance. Recently, however, the bloom has finally seemed to fall off the rose.