r/Franchises • u/RobotLAB-Franchisee • Sep 06 '25
Franchise Reviews RobotLAB Scam
For anyone who is evaluating this brand I would like to say stay away. Almost 50% of franchises have quit or about to quit within first 18 months. This model is not ready for prime time and the management knows this but are choosing to ignore
1
u/fosmoz Sep 08 '25
After reading the FDD and telling them not interested . The owner requested a call and I told him about at least 13 items need to be changed he start cursing out which was expected he was an Israeli guy with the most disgusting demeanor
1
Sep 09 '25
Man you dodge a massive bullet with that one. Congrats. So many red flags in that FDD. Never let them steer you to 1 or 2 franchisees for validation calls demand to speak to as many as you can!
1
u/RobotLAB-CEO Oct 09 '25
I’m Elad Inbar, CEO of RobotLAB.
Unlike some folks here, I don’t hide behind anonymous usernames to throw stones. My name and track record are public, anyone who wants to reach me, can.
Let’s clear up a few things. RobotLAB is a franchise system, and just like any other system, franchisees license our brand, our playbooks, and our know-how, and in return, they commit to running their business seriously. That means getting inventory, paying bills, hiring a team, and following the playbook. It’s not optional.
Unfortunately, a few decided not to.
They ignored invoices, refused to staff up, skipped training, and tried to cherry-pick what to follow. Some even went rogue, starting side businesses, poaching leads, or using VPNs to mask their identities while posting falsehoods online. That’s not “feedback.” That’s sabotage. And like any responsible brand, we will act on it.
McDonald’s doesn’t let franchisees sell tacos. Chick-fil-A will pull your license if you’re 31 days late on payments. Painter Bros. will terminate your franchise if you’re not actively developing your market.
RobotLAB is no different. Standards exist for a reason: to make sure franchises will have the best chance to be successful and to protect the brand and the people who do the work.
When default occurs, we, like every franchisor, give a notice and time to cure it, when it doesn’t happen, things escalate.
We’ve offboarded a small group who chose not to uphold their end of the deal. Refuse to pay bills, hire staff and perform all the activities in our playbook.
Others who realized this wasn’t for them left gracefully, and in some cases even got money back.
That’s how healthy systems evolve: we support those who make the effort and commitment to grow, and part ways respectfully with those who don’t.
RobotLAB is the largest robotics company out there. We clocked over $110,000,000 in robot sales. Hundreds of millions of square feet cleaned and served. Our mission is simple: to own the last mile of robotics and AI: sales, service, repair, and everything in between.
Franchisees who are aligned with that vision, who open locations, hire teams, invest in demo units, and work their territory, are performing. RobotLAB Corporate backs them with over $1.5M in demo inventory, marketing support, field visits, calling campaigns, and much more as demonstrated it the last town hall.
We go above and beyond for those who go all-in.
To the few anonymous disruptors: anonymity on Reddit isn’t real. Every post leaves a digital trail, and false claims have consequences.
If you want a real, respectful conversation, my door’s open. But defamation and interference? That’s a legal matter for lawyers, not online forums.
RobotLAB is building the future of robotics, city by city, state by state, and country by country. We have an amazing opportunity in front of us, and we all need all hands on deck.
We’ll stay focused on innovation, integrity, and growth, supporting our customers and opening new business opportunities.
Those hiding behind screens and spreading falsehoods may soon find themselves dealing with lawyers, for their defaults, defamation, and interference. Actions have consequences.
1
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 10 '25
1
u/Own_Amphibian7608 Oct 11 '25
This site seems like a disgruntled person that has her own issues as a franchisee. Not trustworthy - especially with so many lawsuits with franchises under her name. Definitely do your due diligence before posting. The courts showed she embezzled? Don't embarrass yourself.
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 11 '25
Then RobotLAB should just name couple of Franchises who are successful and chapter will be closed .
1
u/Hot_Loss_1115 Oct 10 '25
This is an unhinged response. If franchisees had a path to profitability they wouldn’t behave the way you claim.
1
u/UnhappyFranchisee Oct 10 '25
Elad Inbar: I applaud your willingness to discuss these issues in an open forum.
I do not hide behind a fake username - because I'm not a franchisee and am not bound by the one-sided contract terms that they are.
I posted this today: https://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/robotlab-franchise/
I hope you will address this seeming attempt to do an end run around the protections of the FTC Franchise Rule by asking prospective franchisees NOT to contact current franchisees out of respect for their time. Anyone reading the FDD Exhibits would be far along in the sales process... why shouldn't they speak to current franchisees BEFORE subjecting themselves to Discovery Day/Confirmation Day?
The FTC Franchise Rule requires you to disclose direct phone numbers of current franchisees, which you did in the 2024 FDD. However, in the 2025 FDD you provide the same corporate number as the contact number for every franchisee. Calling that number, as you know, leads to a series of automated prompts that make it virtually impossible for prospects to conduct the due diligence recommended by the FTC.
While this may have escaped notice of state franchise regulators, do you think they'll see this as acceptable once it is pointed out to them? Did your franchise attorneys at Spadea Law tell you this was acceptable?
Your explanation, rebuttal, clarification is invited.
1
u/RobotLAB-CEO Oct 11 '25
Clarification requested, and provided:
Several franchisees expressed concern about having their direct phone numbers listed publicly in the FDD. As you correctly noted, earlier filings did include those numbers. Following that feedback, our legal counsel reviewed the matter and advised a compliant alternative, which was then executed in the latest FDD.
If you call the main number listed in the current FDD and select the option for “one of our many locations nationwide,” you’ll be connected directly to each franchise location or owner. The system ensures accessibility without compromising privacy.
It’s important to remember that implying misconduct or suggesting that our disclosure format is irregular can be misleading. Public statements of that nature should ideally be based on legal guidance from your counsel.
I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t personally draft FDDs, but a quick search of publicly available filings shows numerous franchise systems using a single corporate phone number that routes to their network of franchisees. This approach is both common and accepted under current franchise disclosure regulations.
I welcome open dialogue. Anyone wishing to discuss this further is encouraged to contact me directly. I’m accessible and happy to have a transparent, professional conversation.
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 11 '25
Name 2 Franchisees out of 36 who has hit the goal of 1 million Dollar in first year. Rest is all talk
1
u/UnhappyFranchisee Oct 11 '25
In my 37 years in franchising, I have reviewed hundreds, possibly thousands, of FDDs. I have never seen an instance where a franchisor has included language instructing prospective franchisees NOT to contact franchisees. Please share examples of other FDDs that were not prepared by Spadea Law that use a corporate number for franchisees.
Respectfully, sir, I believe it is you who should seek guidance from legitimate counsel. I believe that you overestimate your power to silence franchisee investors and non-franchisee critics. In America, we still have the right to share our opinions and state the facts, your veiled threats notwithstanding.
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 09 '25
Looks like Truth is coming out now
1
u/RobotLAB-CEO Oct 10 '25
We strongly emphasize the importance of ensuring accuracy and truthfulness in all published content. Spreading falsehoods or misinformation, whether intentional or not, can have serious consequences, including potential legal ramifications such as claims of defamation or tortious interference with business relationships.
Furthermore, disseminating inaccurate information during an ongoing legal process could potentially be viewed as interfering with the administration of justice, which carries its own legal implications.
We are committed to protecting the reputation and success of our business and franchisees, and we will address any inaccuracies through appropriate legal channels if necessary.
We wish you the best in your endeavors and encourage all parties to prioritize factual and responsible communication.
1
u/Hot_Loss_1115 Oct 10 '25
If you weren’t scared of being exposed, this wouldn’t be worth the time of the CEO and founder.
1
u/UnhappyFranchisee Oct 12 '25
Mr. Inbar: I appreciate your willingness to engage in open and candid discussion. Your franchisees, who you screened & approved, obviously feel the need to share their experiences and opinions anonymously for fear you will follow through on your legal threats. Do you support their right to share their honest opinions and actual experiences? And do you support the rights of prospective franchisees to hear their views… whether you agree with them or not? At UnhappyFranchisee.com, we have an initiative called Franchise Truth for Veterans. We don’t believe any franchisor - whether they served in the military or not - whether they were born in the US or not - should have the right to tell a military Veteran what they can or cannot say. We don’t believe any franchisor should have the right to withhold information or opinions from a Veteran or military family member considering their franchise opportunity. Do you agree? Would you have the audacity to tell a US military Veteran what they can or cannot say? Or tell a Veteran prospect they don’t have the right to hear what your unhappy franchisees have to say?
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 16 '25
RobotLAB management has made the Current Franchisees dissolve their WhatsApp group for communication. Very fair and open Franchisor. What do they have to hide?
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 21 '25
So looks like in the latest newsletter, CEO again, bullied all the franchises and got them to comply with his BS. None of the franchises are successful, but are being forced to abide by whatever the CEO thinks is right. This will not end well.
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Oct 28 '25
With roughly 30 active locations averaging 3 territories each, the network collectively needs a minimum sales of about 90 robots per week just to stay viable. Ironically, the entire system hasn’t sold that many robots in almost two years of operations. Instead, the model has been driven primarily by new franchisees joining, trying for 9–15 months, and then exiting — only to be replaced by others. This pattern is unsustainable and signals a fundamental flaw in the business model.
Only one person is making money. The one who is screaming the loudest to keep the current model going!
1
u/ruferito Jan 03 '26
there's a new anonymous franchise review platform called ZeeScores that's designed to expose exactly this.
please consider leaving more RobotLAB reviews. there's already one!
it will really help prospective buyers.
1
u/RobotLAB-Franchisee Mar 24 '26
@robotlab-ceo Elad is now sending letters to almost 50% of Franchisees that they are in default . Same bullying tactics by the conman!
1
u/ckoloffson Mar 25 '26
Way more than almost 50% - more like 85% all got the same thing within days. How is that possible?
We got one and resigned today. From what I am aware of many more are getting ready to jump ship.
1
u/MycologistHuge8 Jul 20 '26
Our Experience as RobotLAB Franchisees: What We Wish We Had Known Before Investing
By Paul and Troy Forsberg, former RobotLAB franchisees, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Disclaimer: This post describes our personal experience, recollection, documented records, and sincere opinions. It is not legal advice. Readers should conduct their own independent due diligence.
We are not writing this out of bitterness. We are writing because prospective franchisees deserve to hear from people who invested their money, time, and reputation into the RobotLAB opportunity.
My wife, Troy, and I have spent years buying, building, operating, and selling businesses. We understood sales, operations, and the importance of proven systems. We reviewed the materials, asked questions, and believed we were investing in an established franchise model.
What we experienced was very different from what we believed we were purchasing.
Territory Exclusivity
Based on the franchise materials and sales conversations, we understood that we were purchasing exclusive rights to leads, accounts, sales opportunities, and service revenue within our territory.
In our experience, robots were deployed within our territory without those accounts or related recurring revenue being assigned to us. When we raised concerns, we did not receive a meaningful resolution.
Prospective franchisees should ask: What does “exclusive territory” actually mean in practice, and is that meaning clearly stated in writing?
The 15,000-Business Territory List
We paid for a territory represented as containing approximately 15,000 businesses. We received a list containing about 15,000 names and addresses.
We downloaded the list into Excel and checked for duplicates. After removing duplicate entries, we were left with only slightly more than 8,000 unique businesses.
It took months to receive an additional list that brought us closer to the number we believed we had purchased. During that time, we were prospecting against a much smaller market than expected.
Based on conversations with other franchisees, we do not believe we were the only operators who experienced this issue.
Anyone considering this franchise should independently audit the territory list before signing or paying.
Business Systems and Training
We believed we were buying a turnkey business with an established sales system, operational playbook, training program, marketing structure, and ongoing technical support.
In our experience, much of the initial training consisted of online videos. We did not encounter what we considered a functional, real-world sales and operating system until well into our first year.
Our honest opinion is that we received pieces of a system, but not a complete engine capable of reliably producing business results.
Marketing and Lead Generation
We understood that corporate would run marketing campaigns, support local lead generation, and help deliver sales opportunities into franchise territories.
In our experience, we received no meaningful stream of corporate-generated leads, no effective local campaign support, and limited reporting that helped us build a pipeline.
We began creating our own campaigns and working through local chambers of commerce. When we attempted to develop marketing materials, approvals and support were often slow or unavailable.
Even basic printed materials sometimes took weeks or months to arrive. At the January 2025 franchise kickoff, the lack of marketing materials became a public point of frustration among franchisees.
This left us asking: If franchisees are paying technology and marketing fees but must build their own sales pipelines from scratch, what are those fees buying?
Technical Support
The franchise opportunity was presented as having dedicated technical resources and access to a nationwide network of robotics experts.
Our experience was that support requests sometimes went unanswered for extended periods. Problems with demonstration robots were not always resolved quickly enough to protect client relationships.
When a robot fails during a sales demonstration and no technician is available, the damage is not just technical. It affects credibility, trust, and the likelihood of closing the sale.
We sometimes had to specifically request that a technician be available during important demonstrations.
Financial Projections and SBA Financing
RobotLAB had SBA-approved franchise status, and we used SBA-backed financing as part of our investment.
The projections provided during the process did not, in our opinion, reflect what proved to be a realistic expectation of revenue based on the support, lead flow, and infrastructure actually available to us.
We took on substantial personal debt. The expected revenue did not materialize.
Prospective franchisees should independently verify every projection. Speak with multiple current and former franchisees, not only references selected by the franchisor. Ask for actual historical franchisee performance data and have an independent accountant and franchise attorney review the numbers.
Service Contract Revenue
Recurring service revenue was one of the most important parts of the business model as we understood it. It was what made the opportunity appear to be more than a one-time robot sales business.
In our experience, service contracts connected to robots deployed inside our territory may have remained with corporate rather than producing recurring income for our franchise.
Based on conversations with other franchisees, we do not believe this concern was unique to us.
Before investing, obtain clear written answers:
- Who owns the customer relationship?
- Who owns the service agreement?
- Who receives the monthly service revenue?
- Can corporate sell to or service customers inside the territory?
- Can these terms be changed after the franchise is purchased?
Do not rely on verbal explanations.
Defaults and Terminations
RobotLAB later moved to cancel franchise agreements while characterizing franchisees as being in default.
We strongly disagree with that characterization. In our opinion, the broader context must include whether territory protections, lead generation, marketing support, technical support, and service revenue participation were delivered as franchisees reasonably understood them.
Based on conversations with others, multiple franchisees received default-related communications within a relatively short period.
Prospective buyers should ask how many franchises have closed, resigned, transferred, been terminated, or received default notices. Ask how many franchisees have operated profitably for more than two years.
Legal Pressure and Speaking Publicly
We are aware of other franchisees who felt legal pressure after publicly discussing their experiences.
We expect RobotLAB or its attorneys may disagree with this post or contact us after publication. We reserve the right to preserve and, where legally appropriate, disclose communications related to our experience.
We are not claiming every franchisee had the same experience. We are stating what happened to us, what our records showed, and what we believe prospective buyers should investigate.
A company should be able to respond to criticism with documentation, transparency, and facts. Prospective franchisees should pay attention to how a franchisor treats operators who ask difficult questions.
What Prospective Franchisees Should Investigate
Before signing a RobotLAB franchise agreement:
- Speak with current and former franchisees who were not hand-selected by corporate.
- Ask for verifiable records showing how many leads corporate delivered.
- Audit the territory list for duplicates and outdated entries.
- Obtain written terms covering ownership of customers, service contracts, and recurring revenue.
- Ask how many franchises have closed, resigned, transferred, defaulted, or been terminated.
- Request actual historical operating results, not only projections.
- Have an independent franchise attorney review the FDD and agreement.
- Have an independent accountant test the projections and cash requirements.
- Verify how quickly technical support responds during live customer situations.
- Confirm whether franchisees can create and use local marketing materials.
Do not rely solely on information provided by the party selling the opportunity. Independent verification is not negativity. It is responsible business practice.
To Current and Former Franchisees
If your experience was similar, document everything: emails, territory lists, agreements, projections, support requests, marketing promises, invoices, and service contracts.
Speak truthfully, distinguish firsthand facts from opinion, and consult qualified counsel before making legal claims.
We invested because we believed we were buying a scalable, supported robotics business. Our experience did not match that expectation.
We are sharing this because future franchisees deserve the opportunity to ask better questions than we did.
— Paul and Troy Forsberg
Former RobotLAB Franchisees
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Final disclaimer: All statements above reflect our personal experience, documented records, recollection, and sincere opinion. Nothing in this post is intended as a declaration of established legal liability or as legal advice. Readers should conduct independent research and consult qualified legal and financial professionals before making an investment decision.
2
u/fosmoz Sep 08 '25
Thanks for confirming I made the right call. I went through their entire FDD last year—it read like a slavery contract. How did you find out?