There’s nothing like bad comps, an aging menu and doubts about your food quality to get restaurant franchisees nervous. The Taco Bell brand is beset lately, and that has many of the chain’s independent store owners grumbling and talking of revolt.

Among the complaints by a large group of franchisees, according to a posting on the franchise-community web site BlueMauMau.org, is that the Yum! Brands-owned chain handled PR badly in the wake of a well-publicized lawsuit several weeks ago over the amount of beef in Taco Bell taco meat. Other gripes involve “largely ineffective” advertising, slipping quality perceptions of its products, a wobbly current brand value proposition, and intolerably squeezed operator margins.

– Dale Buss, brandchannel.com

We all already know the solution here, Taco Bell. It’s me. I’m committed to your product and I’ve got the big idea that’s going to increase brand awareness, invigorate your customer base and bolster your web presence. All you need to do is give me a ton of money whole hell of a lot of free tacos. Time to put your money where your mouth is and start thinking outside the bun. I’m right here Taco Bell.