Couple left with nothing after investing $1m in 7-Eleven franchise

• 7-Eleven franchisees allege the company is pressuring them to sell their stores but then blocking or delaying those sales, leaving owners stuck and unable to exit their businesses.
• Some franchisees claim the restrictions are tied to internal approval processes and conditions that make it difficult to find eligible buyers or complete transactions.
• The dispute highlights broader tensions within the franchise network, with concerns raised about fairness, transparency, and the balance of power between the franchisor and individual operators.

Convenience giant 7-Eleven is accused of forcing and then blocking the sale of one of its franchises, leaving the owners to walk away with nothing after they invested more than $1 million into the business.

The petrol and fast-food store in Kensington, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, has returned to the hands of head office, which will run the business as part of its corporate network.

Jotika and Sunny Sharma purchased the franchise in 2015, taking out an ANZ loan of more than $1 million to pay the up-front goodwill fee and franchising fees.

They have received no payment from 7-Eleven for the store, despite the goodwill and customer base built up over the decade they ran the business.

“I asked them, how is it possible that I walk out of my investment? I took a hefty loan,” Ms Sharma said.

After a number of attempts by the couple to renew their store agreement, 7-Eleven declined.

The Sharmas were forced to hand over the keys to their store last Tuesday and walk away with nothing.

“I was devastated … I didn’t know they were going to exploit me like …

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Original article and photo by "ABC News"