Fellow Franchise Owners:

Many small business owners like us have found that engaging in government affairs is a critical part of our business.  If we do not get involved to protect our own businesses, no one else will do it for us.  Indeed, there are forces working against us daily.  Every season new laws and regulations are proposed or enacted that impact our bottom lines, and they never seem to protect our interests.

Inevitably, these proposals always end up causing more work for us, more meritless claims being filed against us, more baseless investigations of our stores based on frivolous or false allegations (often made by people fired for stealing from us), more forms to file, new licenses to obtain, and more fees and taxes to pay. This cycle will be endless until we, as honest, responsible and taxpaying small business owners work to reverse its course and try to have government work for us, and not against us.

I know that demands for your time and your funds can be overwhelming, particularly in difficult economic times. But together we have a much louder and more important voice than each of us does individually.  Many Dunkin' Donuts franchise owners do get involved on a local level and support government officials that can be helpful to them.  However, many simply do not. It’s time that we all do.

We have formed this political action committee (PAC) to more effectively do much of this work for busy franchisees in as a responsible and professional manner as possible. Simply put – political campaigns cost money – and political candidates who help support and promote our business ought to have our financial support, both individually and through the PAC.  However, a PAC cannot be effective without strong financial resources, and these resources need to come from us. 

Through the PAC, we can more efficiently identify and target donations and activities where they can have the most impact, can monitor and act upon proposed legislation and act before it becomes law, and propose legislation that is helpful to our legitimate interests.  A PAC can take some of the demands for your time off of your shoulders and promote your agenda for you.

It is in this spirit that I respectfully request your participation in our new PAC; both in terms of financial donations to the PAC and any time that you may wish to contribute as a member of the PAC.  Your ideas and interests are the only reason that this PAC exists, and it cannot continue to work on your behalf without your support.

Sincerely,

Rob Branca

Chairman

Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Owners Massachusetts Political Action Committee