Final answer:
The incorrect statement is that product trademark franchises are more popular than business format franchises. Business format franchises, offering comprehensive business systems, are typically more popular. Product trademark franchises focus on selling goods to dealers, who sell them to consumers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The incorrect statement regarding product and trademark franchises is (b) Product trademark franchises are more popular than business format franchises. In reality, business format franchises, such as fast food chains like McDonald's, are often more prevalent and recognizable. They provide not just a product but a complete system for operating a business, including training, operational support, and brand standards that franchisees must follow.
A product trademark franchise typically involves an agreement where dealers are authorized to sell a manufacturer's product (e.g., Ford Motors with its network of Ford dealers). This form of franchise focuses on the product itself, and the franchisor's primary income comes from selling products to dealers at a markup, rather than franchise fees or royalties, as stated in (e). As in (d), product and trademark franchisees are given a degree of autonomy, particularly concerning how they manage the daily operations of their individual businesses. Finally, exclusive dealing agreements like those mentioned for Ford Motor Company (c) are legal and commonly observed in product trademark franchising.