FRANCHISE LAW
Franchise Law Articles
Plain-English analysis of FDD reviews, franchise agreements, exit strategy, and ongoing counsel for franchisees and franchisors.
477 articles
Do I Need a Lawyer to Review My Franchise Agreement?
No law requires you to hire a lawyer to review a franchise agreement — but signing one without legal review is where most franchisees quietly lose money. A …
Don't Franchise Your Business Until You Read This
The biggest mistake new franchisors make is franchising before the business is genuinely ready — then compounding it with a do-it-yourself legal package that …
FDD Review Checklist: What to Check Before You Sign
The Franchise Disclosure Document is the single most important document you will read before buying a franchise, and the FTC Franchise Rule requires the …
FDD vs. Franchise Agreement: Key Differences
The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a disclosure tool; the franchise agreement is the binding contract. The FDD informs your decision before you buy — it …
Franchise Acquisitions: Buying an Existing Unit
A franchise acquisition is the purchase of an existing franchised business — and it almost always requires the franchisor’s approval, not just the …
Franchise Agreement Red Flags Before You Sign
The clauses most likely to trip you up in a franchise agreement are the ones that control what happens after the honeymoon — renewal, transfer, termination, …
Franchise Agreement Red Flags: Warning Signs to Check
A franchise agreement is almost always written by the franchisor for the franchisor — so “fair” means knowing which one-sided terms are normal and …
Franchise Agreement Review Checklist for Buyers
A franchise agreement review means reading the contract clause by clause and testing each term against how you actually plan to run the business — before you …
Franchise Agreement Risks: What to Check Before Signing
The largest legal risk in a franchise agreement is structural: it is drafted by the franchisor, for the franchisor, and is largely non-negotiable — so the terms …
Franchise Agreement Term & Renewal Explained
Most franchise agreements run 5 to 20 years, and the most common structure is a 10-year initial term followed by one or more renewal options. The exact length …
Franchise Agreement: Key Clauses to Check
The clauses most franchise buyers miss are the ones that control money and exit: fees, term, renewal, transfer, and termination — not the marketing in the …
Franchise Agreement: Key Clauses to Check Before Signing
The clauses that decide your franchise are term, territory, fees, transfer, renewal, and termination — read those first. A franchise agreement is a long …
Franchise Agreement: Legal Facts Before You Sign
Before you sign a franchise agreement, know the legal framework that governs it: the FTC Franchise Rule, the FDD and its 14-day waiting period, state …
Franchise Broker Accreditation vs. Registration
A franchise broker’s “accreditation” is voluntary industry branding — the credential that carries legal weight is state registration. …
Franchise Broker Advertising: What You Can't Say
For a franchise broker, business development is where the legal risk lives — because lead generation means making claims, and the FTC Franchise Rule controls …
Franchise Broker Client Retention and Liability
For a franchise broker, client retention and legal liability are the same problem viewed from two sides — the conduct that keeps franchisors and franchisees …
Franchise Broker Communication & Disclosure Checklist
For a franchise broker, the line between good communication and a compliance violation is thin: anything they tell a candidate has to match the FDD, stay inside …
Franchise Broker Conflict Resolution Checklist
A franchise broker can help defuse early friction between a franchisor and a franchisee, but once a dispute touches money, brand standards, or termination, the …
Franchise Broker Continuing Education Checklist
The continuing education that matters most for a franchise broker is legal and regulatory, not motivational. Because brokers are “franchise sellers” …
Franchise Broker CRM Checklist
A franchise broker’s CRM is not just a sales tool — it’s the compliance record that defends the brokerage when a deal goes wrong. Because brokers …
