Franchise Articles

As a franchisee, you have the right to expect your franchisor to comply with the terms of your franchise agreement. You also have the right to expect your franchisor to comply with applicable law. But what does this mean, exactly? National franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein explains.

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For franchisees, holding franchisors accountable often means pursuing franchise arbitration. The substantial majority of franchise agreements include mandatory alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provisions, and most of these require franchisees to pursue arbitration rather than going to court. For franchisees who are considering legal action against their franchisors, consulting with an experienced franchise lawyer is generally the first step toward determining whether arbitration is warranted.

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The “joint employer” standard has been a hot topic in the franchising world for nearly a decade. This standard is used to determine when multiple entities can be considered employers of a single employee, with the primary purpose of establishing the employee’s right to pursue remedies for discrimination, harassment, workplace injuries, and other forms of harm. Franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein has written about this topic in the past—first when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued the Browning-Ferris decision that expanded the federal definition of “joint employer” in 2015, and more recently when the House introduced the failed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act in 2020.

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A recent article in the Franchise Times discusses the rising costs of opening and operating a franchise. According to the article, “[d]evelopment and buildout costs across the board have increased, and it’s led a majority of franchisors to bump what’s financially needed for a franchisee.” As the article goes on to explain, in a recent survey, “93.9 percent of franchisors indicated inflation has forced them to increase cost estimates in . . . Item 7[ of their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)].”

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Laws in various states prohibit franchisors from engaging in unfair franchise practices and entitle franchisees to seek remedies when their franchisors violate the law. This raises two critical questions: What constitutes an “unfair franchise practice,” and what can (and should) you do if you are a victim? National franchisee attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein explains:

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According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), the health and wellness industry has been growing at a rate of 5 to 10 percent annually and was valued at $480 billion as of 2024. Does this mean that it’s time to buy a health and wellness franchise in 2025? National franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts:

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The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently released the results of its 2024 Annual Franchisee Survey. In this article, national franchise lawyer Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts on the IFA’s latest data.

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The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently released its Franchising Economic Outlook for 2025. The Franchising Economic Outlook is an annual report that looks at historical data and provides forecasts and projections for the year ahead based on “quantitative and qualitative information relevant to franchising in the United States.” Here are some key insights and takeaways from the 2025 report from national franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein.

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With more businesses turning to franchising to grow their brands, there are now numerous franchise opportunities at all price points. While you can invest millions of dollars in a brick-and-mortar restaurant or state-of-the-art gym, you can also buy a home-based franchise for well under six figures. But, is buying a budget-friendly franchise worth it? Do you get what you pay for? Franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein shares his thoughts.

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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports—and potentially the fastest-growing sport—in the United States. According to a report the Sports Business Journal published last year, “In terms of overall growth, 13.6 million people played pickleball in 2023, which contributed to a survey-leading 223.5% growth rate over the past three years.” As pickleball continues to grow in popularity, pickleball franchises are popping up with increasing frequency as well. What do you need to know about buying a pickleball franchise? New York franchise attorney Jeffrey M. Goldstein explains.

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