Reality Check: On Myself
Every week, I publish investigations that hold franchisors accountable for what they disclose, and what they don’t. I believe in transparency, documentation, and truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. So today, I’m turning the spotlight on myself.
On Sunday October 12, 2025 at 4:43 pm, RobotLAB CEO Elad Inbar issued a newsletter (RobotLAB Internal Newsletter Vol 55) to his franchisees implying that I had been
“…charged and found guilty with embezzlement as a franchisee of another brand...”
That statement is false, and provably so.
There is no criminal record, no charge, and no conviction, because there was never a criminal matter.
What Mr. Inbar is referencing is a civil bankruptcy proceeding from 2019, a business debt dispute within a Chapter 7 case. Those records are readily available on PACER for public review. And for the record, by that time, I was not a franchisee of any brand. I had sold my Domino’s franchises in 2017, two years before the bankruptcy was filed.
The case Mr. Inbar is attempting to distort was a civil adversary proceeding brought by a former business partner, not a criminal prosecution.
Mr. Inbar’s statements meet the definition of defamation per se; the statements are demonstrably false and were published to his entire franchise network.
He goes on to say:
“Defamation and interference in our collective business are serious matters, and our lawyers are handling this going forward, and will get to those who chose that path. Anonymity doesn’t erase accountability.”
The phrase “our lawyers are handling this” functions as an explicit legal threat intended to silence sources and chill protected speech. It is easy to understand why his franchisees choose to remain anonymous. And it is even easier to understand why many now say they were forced to abandon their private franchisee-only WhatsApp group after corporate demanded that all franchisee communication move to a company-controlled Slack channel.
Setting the Record Straight
Here are the facts, supported by public records:
In 2019, I filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy out of an abundance of caution related to a commercial lease I had personally guaranteed.
During that process, a former minority business partner filed a derivative adversary complaint, a civil action within the bankruptcy, seeking to have one specific debt declared non-dischargeable.
Both sides presented evidence at trial, filed closing arguments, and the judge issued a final civil ruling in 2021 siding with the creditor.
That ruling was then domesticated in district court as Order and Judgment Against HS Investment Group, LLC in July 2022.
There were no criminal charges and no conviction, only a civil debt determination against an entity.
That’s the full story. No missing context. No hidden facts. Just the truth, which is more than can be said for the claims made about me.
Why I’m Sharing This
Because truth matters.
Because transparency is the foundation of Franchise Reality Check™.
And because it’s important that readers and franchisees see that integrity isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being honest.
If I’m willing to scrutinize franchisors for inconsistencies, I have to be willing to apply the same standard to myself.
I pull back the curtain on myself not because I owe anyone an explanation, but because I refuse to allow misinformation to fill the silence. When people weaponize half-truths and rumors to discredit whistleblowers, that’s not journalism or leadership. That’s control.
Thousands of businesses fail every day in America. According to LendingTree, about 21.5% of private-sector businesses fail in their first year, and nearly 65% close within ten years. Franchises are no exception. In SBA-backed franchise financing across FY 2020–2023, an average default rate of ~17% has been observed, far higher than general SBA loan default rates (3–4%). That divergence suggests franchise operators may face elevated financial risk when the model is misaligned. Comprehensive franchise-default data hasn’t been published centrally since 2011, which is why brand disclosures and real-world operator reports are so critical.
Failure isn’t rare. It’s reality. And it’s often where the most valuable lessons come from.
Many of the most insightful business owners I’ve met are people who have stumbled, learned, and rebuilt stronger. Their voices shouldn’t be dismissed, they should be amplified. Experience earned the hard way is often the truest form of expertise.
I also want to be clear: I have nothing to gain from this work. I don’t sell franchises. I don’t broker deals. I have no advertisers. I don’t charge franchisees for their stories. They come to me. My work is advocacy and education, shining light on what the documents say, and what they don’t.
Threats, Intimidation & the Cost of Silence
When franchisors face legitimate scrutiny, some respond not with transparency, but with retaliation: legal threats, smear campaigns, and intimidation designed to silence critics. Retaliatory threats and misinformation campaigns against reporters (even “pseudo” ones) or franchisees don’t change the facts. They simply underscore the culture of intimidation I’ve been documenting and RobotLAB franchisees claim they’ve experienced.
Why spend time and money trying to discredit those raising valid concerns instead of fixing what’s wrong? Why not take that energy and reinvest it into improving support, compliance, and franchisee success?
If a brand is confident in its model, it shouldn’t fear a spotlight.
Franchisees want to succeed. They invest their savings, their time, and their families into these systems. When a franchisor responds to criticism with aggression instead of accountability, it only proves the need for oversight.
The Reality Check
My experience is a reminder that franchising, and business ownership in general, is messy, risky, and human. Things go wrong. Partnerships sour. Finances collapse. But none of that erases the right, or responsibility, to speak up when others are being misled.
I’ve rebuilt my life and my purpose around one principle: truth can withstand scrutiny. My history is public and my mission has never changed: to expose the practices that harm franchisees and empower others to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
And here’s the irony that shouldn’t be lost on anyone: if RobotLAB’s leadership doesn’t change course, many of its own franchisees may one day find themselves in the same bankruptcy boat I was in. The warning signs are right there in the disclosures, the financials, and the mounting frustration within the system.
The difference is, I learned from mine. The question now is: will they?
This week’s Reality Check is on me. Because transparency doesn’t weaken credibility, it defines it.
This article is an independent journalistic commentary published by Franchise Reality Check™, an educational and advocacy platform operated by Genevieve McDaniel. The content is provided for informational and public interest purposes only. All statements of fact are based on publicly available records, filings, or source documents cited within the article. Opinions expressed are those of the author, offered as commentary protected under the First Amendment and applicable fair-comment principles. Nothing in this publication should be construed as legal advice, financial advice, or a factual assertion beyond what is verifiably contained in public documents. Readers are encouraged to independently review the referenced materials, including court filings and Franchise Disclosure Documents, which are publicly accessible. References to any individual or entity are based on public conduct, statements, or business filings relevant to matters of legitimate public concern. The mention of a person or company does not imply misconduct, liability, or wrongdoing unless such has been legally adjudicated and confirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction. Franchise Reality Check™ and its author do not accept compensation from any franchisor, franchisee, broker, or related party in connection with this content. This publication is not affiliated with any regulatory agency, legal authority, or franchising organization. By reading or sharing this content, you acknowledge that the article represents a constitutionally protected opinion and analysis grounded in evidence and offered for the advancement of transparency and consumer awareness in the franchise sector.
