Commission split is almost always negotiable within guidelines set by the franchise.

This would seem to be gross negligence by the property manager imho.Do I have a reasonable case to pursue against this national property management company's local franchise?

I was wondering if anybody has any experience with these ice machine that you see on the side of the road etc, would this be a good investment?

I'm seriously considering purchasing an associate Homevestors Franchise to start on a part time basis and possibility turn into a full time ventuer.

Most of the large franchises are commission-based and want a big share of the pie (in my area, about $20,000/year).  

CA takes $800/year for any entity 'doing business in CA' - a phrase that is aggressively and broadly interpreted by the Franchise Tax Board there.  

Besides all this, LLC is not the best way to go if you are just starting with a small or no portfolio to protect, especially in CA where it will cost you $800/yr CA state franchise tax, separate tax returns, and setup fees ... you can just get a $1M or $2M umbrella insurance policy under your name and the properties for some protection ... much less cumbersome and expensive.

And I am not interested in buying a franchise

Ben Franklin is a franchise of sorts.

I am a franchise HomeVestors of America the "We Buy Ugly Houses" guys and can say that the term "Ugly" works, unfortunately you have to be a franchise to use it.