ABSTRACT In PJC Management Group, LLC v. MAACO Franchisor SPV LLC, 2026 NCBC 37 (N.C. Super. Ct. Apr. 22, 2026), the North Carolina Business Court partially granted and partially denied a motion to dismiss filed by MAACO and its parent companies in a franchise dispute. The court allowed franchisees’ breach of contract claims against MAACO to proceed based on allegations that MAACO misappropriated advertising fees and failed to provide required financial statements. However, the court dismissed claims against MAACO’s parent companies for insufficient pleading, dismissed the unfair trade practices claim with prejudice for failing to allege aggravating circumstances beyond breach of contract, and dismissed the accounting claim without prejudice as it is a remedy rather than an independent cause of action. The decision clarifies the standards for pleading franchise disputes in North Carolina and the limitations on converting contract breaches into statutory violations. CASE IDENTIFICATION AND PARTIES This case is PJC Management Group, LLC v. MAACO Franchisor SPV LLC, 2026 NCBC 37, decided by the North Carolina Superior Court, Mecklenburg County, Business Court on April 22, 2026. The plaintiffs and franchisees are PJC Management Group, LLC (a North Carolina limited liability company), Phillip J. Collins, J&A Companies Inc. (a Nevada corporation), PVA Capital LLC (a Virginia limited liability company), Shore Capital, LLC (a Virginia limited liability company), LEWVIA Inc. (a Texas corporation), Hollas Enterprises, LLC (a Texas limited liability company), MFinch & WPerry Solutions, Inc. (a Georgia corporation), William Perry, and Michael Finch. The defendants include MAACO Franchisor SPV LLC […]

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While owning a franchise can be profitable, it is debatable that franchise ownership has made “countless Americans rich,” as claimed in a recent article published by The Economist. This also ignores data suggesting that the average single-unit franchise owner earns less than $100,000 annually, and that for new owners, the average is closer to $50,000. Additionally, around one in ten franchises fail completely within the first two years.

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Many experienced franchisees say they wish they had known more about the unique challenges of franchise ownership before moving forward. Not having a clear understanding of the costs involved is a common lament as well. Some also say they expected to take a more hands-off approach than their franchises ultimately required.

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Last month, we published an article outlining seven reasons franchisees should be cautious about using artificial intelligence (AI) when researching franchise opportunities. In that article, franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein highlighted some of the key pitfalls of using AI for research purposes, particularly when researching anything with significant financial or legal implications (or both).

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You received a franchise termination notice. Maybe it was expected, or maybe it wasn’t—but now you are facing a high-risk situation that you never expected when you signed your franchise agreement. In this situation, what can (and should) you do? Equally important, what should you avoid doing, and what (if anything) can a franchise lawyer do to help?

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Franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein, founder of Goldstein Law Firm, has once again been named to the Franchise Times’ list of U.S. Legal Eagles. Published annually, the U.S. Legal Eagles list highlights the nation’s “top franchise attorneys,” as selected through the publication’s formal nomination process.

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While it is becoming increasingly common to use ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other artificial intelligence (AI) platforms to conduct research rather than searching online, this approach poses several risks. This is especially true for prospective franchisees. As a prospective franchisee, it is critical to do your due diligence, and there are multiple issues with AI that make it unfit for this purpose. Keep reading to learn more from franchisee lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein.

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Most franchise agreements include provisions requiring franchisees to pursue mediation or arbitration (or both) rather than taking their franchisors to court. As a franchisee, understanding your legal options is important. So, if you need to hold your franchisor accountable, what do you need to know? Here are some key insights from national franchise lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein.

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The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently published a report titled, The Value of Franchising. As the IFA explains, the report reflects the results of a survey of nearly 3,000 franchisees as well as an “economic analysis comparing franchises with non-franchise businesses” conducted by Oxford Economics. Here, national franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts on the report’s conclusions.

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The Franchise Times recently released its list of the “10 Top Brands to Buy” in 2026 as part of its annual Zor Awards. Several publications release these types of lists, and, as a prospective franchisee, it is important to make informed decisions about how much weight, if any, to give to a franchisor’s inclusion on (or exclusion from) any particular list of the “top” or “best” franchise brands. Keep reading for some important insights from national franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein.

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