| Comment Number: | 522418-12496 |
| Received: | 7/17/2006 10:17:32 PM |
| Organization: | Independent Business Owner, Quixtar |
| Commenter: | Nina Bice |
| State: | MD |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
My husband and I have been independent business owners affiliated with Quixtar for 8 years. Having our own business has dramatically changed our lives for the better, and we continue to set new goals, knowing that we have an incredible vehicle with which we can achieve those goals. A current goal that we have is to generate enough income through our Quixtar business to replace my income as a full time employee, and starting a family. Being an independent business owner is the fastest way for us to achieve that goal. When we became business owners, we were provided with plenty of information, verbal, audio/video, brochures, pamplets, etc, to make an informed decision to register for our business. Our business model allows for us to provide the same information to our prospects. We stress in our business plan that Quixtar is not a "get rich quick" scheme, but takes time and effort to achieve success. At the time that the business plan is shared, there is never any exchange of funds. A prospect is never registered until they have had multiple opportunities to look at the business plan and ask any questions. The registration fees and start up kits run under $200, of which all of it is fully refundable if they decide to leave the business. I believe that the Quixtar opportunity is truly an incredible option for people searching to own their own business. Having said that, I strongly disagree with some of the proposed rules for independent business ownership. The seven-day waiting period for registration seems a bit extreme. If you go to the store to purchase products, you don't have to wait seven days before using those products. If you purchase a vehicle, you do not have to wait seven days to drive that vehicle. The same principle should be applied here. A prosect who is excited about starting their own business and has been informed of all the details, should not have to wait seven days to register their business, nor should they have to allow their excitement level and momentum to die down as they wait seven days to start registering their own prospects. The requirement to provide references and for specific earnings disclosure also seem unnecessary. It could even be interpreted as an invasion of privacy. To share other IBO's personal contact information violates their privacy. In addition, a prospect could potentially register with a reference instead, if given a list of references to contact freely. When prospects see the business plan, IBOs generally utilize a business meeting format at which the prospects have ample opportunity to meet other successful IBOs and to learn about their experiences with the business. A list of references is simply not necessary. As far as specific earnings, it also seems an invasion of privacy. When you hire someone at a traditional job, coworkers are not required, nor expected, to disclose their salary. The business plan shares income potential at all levels of building the Quixtar business, and the earnings potential is also printed in our FTC-approved literature. Specific earnings disclosure should not be mandatory or regulated by the government. In short, I believe strongly in the Quixtar business and the incredible opportunity available for people from any background, any educational level, any culture. At the same time, I strongly disagree with the FTC's proposed rules, and encourage you to review all feedback from IBOs across the world as you make changes to your proposal. We live in the greatest country in the world, in great part to our free enterprise system. I ask that we keep it that way. Thank you so much. Respectfully, Nina Bice