[QUOTE=Jpkhckwrth;5582889]What in the holy hell is going on with this?
[URL]https://massagebyangels.com/[/URL]
There's an attached youtube channel with like 100+ videos all promoting the whole thing, including like a dozen "client" interviews about how great the place is. The website looks like they spent $1000's on it. It even advertises a "talk show" that runs on some local cable access channel.
The price is $200 for 30 min, listed in big bright colors on the website. It'll let you book a $1000 VIP 100 session if you want. There are two locations, one in Stanton and one in FV.
Is this a scam at literally every level, from the customers to the workers to anyone who puts money into this "franchise?" I don't understand how this can even operate with a massive sign asking for hundreds of dollars at a time. This is so blatant it genuinely confuses me.[/QUOTE]First of all, all franchisors are required to have a document called an FDD (franchise disclosure document). It discloses everything from how much investment you need to make, to what expectations you need to meet, to financials. They are all on file with the SEC. They have no such document (I searched the database). Second of all I own a high end franchise spa. They say you can buy a franchise with an investment of $98 k. There is absolutely no freaking way. Mine cost over $300 k just for construction and I do t have a huge location (8 rooms). Massage therapists earning $120 k? Hell no. Not for legit massage anyway. Therapists at high end resort spas around here get $40 per massage and they'll do 4 or 5 massages a day. That doesn't add up to anywhere near $120 k. "Franchise owners" making $300 k first year is laughable. Anyone who's ever owned a franchise of any kind will tell you the first 2-3 years are pure hell. You bleed red. Their numbers don't add up. Franchisors don't build locations or supply employees to you a franchisee. Law actually dictates that they have to be separate entities and the franchisor can't have any influence or involvement in the franchisee's hiring practices. Nothing in what they say is in line with how franchising works. Not to mention their massage pricing is way out of line with even the highest end legit massage pricing. Hell, you can go to the Montage in Laguna Beach and get an hour luxury massage for less than what this place quotes.
What they're looking for is front men to run the shell businesses for the enterprise so the real kingpins can hide in Hong Kong outside of the reach of LE.
