As a prospective franchisee, you have a handful of options when it comes to ways to finance your franchise. One of these options is a bank loan guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which is commonly referred to as an “SBA loan.” While obtaining an SBA loan can help mitigate your financial risk as a franchisee, before you apply for funding, it is important to understand the terms, conditions and residual risks that these loans entail. If you are considering an SBA loan to finance your franchise, here is a brief introduction to what you need to know: 5 Important Facts about SBA Loans for Franchisees 1. An SBA Loan is Not Actually a Loan from the SBA. As we mentioned above, an SBA loan is not actually a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration, but rather a loan from a private bank that works with the SBA. When you obtain an SBA loan, the SBA guarantees a portion of the loan, which means that the SBA will pay the bank if you are unable to do so. 2. The SBA Does Not Fully-Guarantee Franchise Loans. While the SBA will guarantee a significant portion of your loan, it will not guarantee your entirely. Depending on the amount you borrow, you may still need to personally guarantee 15 to 25 percent of the loan for your franchise. You will also need to make a down payment, and you may need to pledge assets as collateral. 3. In Order […]

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When you buy a franchise, your decision to move forward is largely based upon information provided by the franchisor. From marketing materials and sales pitches to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement, while you may receive information in multiple formats, all of these formats trace back to the same single source. Hopefully, the information you receive is up-to-date and not misleading. Hopefully, your franchisor is confident in its offering and wants you to make as informed of a decision as possible. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. As a result, it is important for both prospective and current franchisees to seek to verify their franchisors’ representations through other sources, whether that means going online, sending an email or picking up the phone. Where to Find Information About Franchisors and Franchise Opportunities If you need to find information about your franchisor or a franchise you are considering purchasing, these sources are a good place to start: 1. Current Franchisees Franchisors are required to disclose their current franchisees’ addresses and phone numbers in Item 20 of the FDD. If you have questions, there is a good chance that other franchisees in the system have either had the same question before or turned to other franchisees for help in other circumstances. As a result, you will often find that existing franchisees are more than happy to share what they know. 2. Former Franchisees The mandatory disclosures in Item 20 also include addresses and telephone numbers for franchisees who have left […]

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Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is titled, “Financial Performance Representations.” In this Item, franchisors have the option to provide information, “about the actual or potential financial performance of its franchised and/or franchisor-owned outlets, if there is a reasonable basis for the information, and if the information is included in the disclosure document.” Providing a financial performance representation (FPR) in Item 19 is optional. If a franchisor chooses not to provide an FPR, it must include a “negative disclosure” which states: “We do not make any representations about a franchisee’s future financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets. We also do not authorize our employees or representatives to make any such representations either orally or in writing. If you are purchasing an existing outlet, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that outlet. If you receive any other financial performance information or projections of your future income, you should report it to the franchisor’s management by contacting [name, address, and telephone number], the Federal Trade Commission, and the appropriate state regulatory agencies.” Many franchisors choose to provide this negative disclosure. While financial performance representations are of obvious interest to prospective franchisees, improperly-prepared FPRs can expose franchisors to litigation. As a result, rather than take the time to prepare an accurate and substantiated FPR, franchise executives (and their lawyers) often opt for the safer and simpler route. But, let’s suppose that you have received an FDD that includes an FPR. What […]

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With very few attorneys focusing their practice on franchise law, chances are that there is not an experienced franchise lawyer in your local area. So, if you need an attorney to review a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement or represent you in a franchise-related dispute, should you choose a local business lawyer, or is it better to hire an attorney who is farther away but who focuses his or her practice on franchise-related matters? While seeking legal representation locally will be your best option in many cases, hiring an attorney for franchise-related legal issues is a notable exception to this general rule. The reason for this is simple: The world of franchising is unique, and understanding the legal issues – as well as their real-world implications – requires extensive experience dealing exclusively with franchise law matters. An attorney who does not practice franchise law may be able to advise you regarding the risks of certain contract provisions and your options regarding arbitration or litigation generally, but he or she will not be able to put these issues into context, and he or she is unlikely to be familiar with the complex federal regulations and the web of state-specific franchise laws that apply. 5 Reasons Why Prospective and Active Franchisees Should Hire an Experienced Franchise Lawyer When it comes to understanding the legal implications of being a franchisee, there are countless examples of issues that require thorough knowledge of franchise-specific legal issues. Some examples include: Comparing the Benefits (and […]

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We are pleased to announce that firm founder Jeffrey M. Goldstein has recently been selected for exclusive membership in Leaders in Law. Mr. Goldstein has been selected as the exclusive member for the USA – New York region for 2017-2018. He is currently one of only for franchise lawyers selected for inclusion worldwide, and he is currently the only franchise lawyer selected in the United States. About Leaders in Law Leaders in Law provides business owners with a streamlined way to find attorneys in their areas of need. As stated on the organization’s website: “Leaders in Law is the ideal way to find a lawyer anywhere in the world specialising in the area of law with which you need assistance or advice. Very few people have a detailed knowledge of lawyers all around the world, but Leaders in Law has painstakingly put together a database of lawyers in 120 different countries and covering 42 different areas of law. Our selection process is so rigorous you can be assured that you will find a Leader in Law with maximum expertise.” With more than 700 attorneys selected for inclusion worldwide, there are currently just four franchise lawyers who have been recognized as Leaders in Law. Along with Mr. Goldstein in the United States, these prestigiously-selected attorneys are located in France, Kuwait and Azerbaijan. About Jeffrey M. Goldstein Jeffrey M. Goldstein is a globally-recognized franchise lawyer who has spent the last three decades exclusively representing franchisees and dealers. The Goldstein Law Firm is […]

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Earlier this year, Franchise Times reported the results of a study conducted by Franchise Business Review which examined the rising trend of female franchise ownership. The article highlights some interesting statistics, and it shows just how big of a role female franchisees play in current success and the projected future growth of the franchise industry. Here are some of the most noteworthy numbers from the survey: 63,000 According to Franchise Times, female franchisees earn an average income of $63,000 per year. 6,400 Franchise Business Review surveyed 6,400 female franchisees, representing only a portion of the female franchise owners operating today. 85 85 percent of female franchisees said they would recommend their brands to others considering franchise opportunities. 84 84 percent of female franchisees said that they respected their franchisors; however, only 80 percent said that they believed their franchisors acted “with a high level of integrity.” 74 According to Franchise Business Review, 74 percent of female franchisees say they would “do it again” knowing what they now know as a result of their experience in the franchise industry. 60 Sixty percent of female franchisees surveyed had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Seventeen percent held an associate’s degree, and 20 percent reported having only a high school education. 58 Just over half of female franchisees reported that their franchised businesses are meeting their financial expectations. 51 Child services is the only franchise sector in which the majority of franchise owners (51 percent) are women. Travel and hospitality has an even split […]

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When you purchased your franchise, you never expected to in up in court. You did your due diligence, you read the statistics saying that most franchisees were satisfied with their businesses, and you were confident that you could make your franchised outlet a success. If your franchise is struggling, you are not alone. Building a successful business is not easy, and many franchisees find out that their relationships with their franchisors ultimately do more harm than good. As a result, they end up looking for a way out before their franchise agreement expires, and this often means exploring their options for litigation. Franchise Dissatisfaction: When Should Franchisees Take Legal Action? Of course, even under the most contentious of circumstances, full-blown courtroom litigation is generally a means of last resort. There are more-amicable alternatives available, and these will often offer more cost-effective and mutually-beneficial opportunities for resolution. That said, the issues that spur alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods and litigation are generally the same, and dissatisfied franchisees should take the time to gain a clear understanding of all of the options that are on the table. If you are facing a dispute with your franchisor or seeking a way to terminate your franchise, the following are some examples of some potential grounds for legal action: State and federal disclosure violations, including inaccurate or incomplete information in a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Imposition of illegal price-fixing arrangements and other illegal competitive restrictions Improper refusal to renew or consent to transfer of a […]

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When buying an existing franchised business, the process can involve a number of franchise and non-franchise legal issues. Here is an overview of some of the key issues to consider when evaluating a potential purchase of an existing franchise: Transfer Conditions Franchisors like control. One of the ways they exercise this control (among many, many others) is by placing conditions on franchisees’ ability to transfer their franchise rights. When communicating with your prospective seller, it will be important to gain a clear understanding of where he or she is in the process of obtaining approval for the transfer. As a prospective buyer, you will likely need to go through the franchisor’s approval process for new franchisees as well, and you should make sure you understand the requirements and timelines involved. Remaining Term and Renewal Rights All franchise agreements are time-limited. The length of time a franchisee is granted the right to operate is known as the franchise “term.” Before buying an existing franchise, you should make sure you know the amount of time remaining in the term, and you should factor this into your financial calculations. Likewise, most franchise agreements include “rights” to renew. If the seller’s franchise agreement includes a renewal provision (or if the seller is currently operating in a renewal term), you will want to make sure you have a clear understanding of your rights and obligations with regard to renewal. However, as we discuss below, you will also need to understand whether you will be required […]

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As a franchisee, it is easy to feel like you are alone on an island. When you run into issues (and particularly issues with your franchisor), knowing where to go for help can be a challenge. In some franchise systems, one option may be to join a franchisee association. While these associations were once vehemently opposed by franchisors who feared the collective ranks of their franchisees (as is still the case in some troubled franchise systems), today, many franchisors acknowledge franchisee associations, and in some cases they may even turn to these associations for information and guidance. As a result, under the right circumstances, joining a franchisee association can have benefits on numerous levels, and it may make sense for both new and more-experienced franchisees to get involved. Three Questions to Ask When Considering a Franchisee Association But, as with most things in the world of franchising, there are two sides to association involvement. So, should you join (or form) a franchisee association? Here are some initial questions to consider: Q: What type of association are you considering? There are different types of franchisee associations. There are general associations (which are most common in large franchise systems) that represent the collective interests of their members, and then there are special-purpose associations that organize in response to a particular issue with a franchisor. Since there are only limited protections for franchisee associations under state law (and no specific protections under federal law), franchisees who are considering association membership must be aware […]

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When considering franchise opportunities, it is important to understand that you are involved in a sales process. If you are a strong candidate, franchisors will want to sell you on their systems, and you will work with salespeople who get paid on commission to entice prospective franchisees to enter into franchise agreements. During this process, you will likely hear about several “benefits” that each franchise system has to offer. But, in many cases, these benefits can actually be limitations and restrictions in disguise. Let’s take a look at some examples: Benefit or Drawback: Common Selling Points for Franchise Opportunities 1. Designated Suppliers In product-based franchises and franchises that offer a mix of products and services (such as fitness gyms and cleaning franchises), it is common for franchisors to require their franchisees to make purchases from designated suppliers. There are a number of ways that this can be promoted as a benefit, from maintaining uniformity among franchisees to limiting your sourcing burdens and ensuring the quality of the products that go on your shelves. However, designated (or mandatory) supplier provisions come with drawbacks as well. For example, suppose your franchisor’s designated supplier falls behind on deliveries. Or, what if its products simply do not meet your (and your customers’) expectations? If you are contractually bound and unable to consider alternatives, these could present real problems for your franchised business. 2. Advertising Funds A system-wide advertising fund can provide significant benefits for the right franchisees in the right franchise systems. But, before […]

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