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Do you have a successful B2C company that serves cross-markets well?
Then franchising may be the next logical step towards growth. However, the level of trust you place in a franchisee is high, which means you need a rock-solid legal contract to match.
Meet the franchise agreement.
A franchise agreement will protect your company’s legal rights. Poorly written contracts don’t serve their intended purposes. A well-written franchise agreement serves the purpose of protecting a franchisor's brand. It also clarifies the rights and obligations of each of the parties - the franchisor and the franchisee - and ensures consistently and quality across each of the franchisor's various locations.
Instead of leaving your franchising agreement exposed to liability, read the article below that covers everything you should know.
What is a Franchise Agreement?
Franchise agreements are legal documents between a franchisor and a franchisee. They generally include franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) governed by the Federal Trade Commissions’ FTC Franchise Rule.
What is the FTC Franchise Rule?
As codified in 16 CFR Parts 436 and 437, the FTC Franchise Rule is a federal law compelling franchisors to disclose certain information about the franchise and its business to prospective franchisees, so that franchisees are informed prior to investing. More information can be found online at: https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/franchise-rule.
A franchise agreement incorporates the rights and obligations of the franchisor and franchisee to license and sell a company’s intellectual property and licensing rights.
Examples of businesses that use franchise agreements include:
- Convenience stores
- Fast food and chain restaurants
- Financial advisors
- Health care providers
- Health clubs
- Real estate companies
- Retailers
- Travel agencies
If you plan to license your business for use as a franchise, you must have a franchise agreement to operate legally and successfully. Otherwise, your franchise agreements can result in pitfalls that come back to haunt you later. Ensure that you have a suitable franchise agreement for your situation and that you understand how they work.
How Franchise Agreements Work
A franchisee basically purchases the right to operate a company under the franchisor’s established system, playbook and brand. Franchises have a proven business model, and investors want to capitalize on their returns, especially those with previous experience. The franchisor and franchisee must collectively agree on expectations and guidelines.
Here’s how a typical negotiation of a franchise agreement works:
- Step 1. Meet with the potential franchisor
- Step 2. Establish the proposed territory rights for the franchisee’s location
- Step 3. Set the minimum standards for performance and associated penalties for missed goals
- Step 4. Determine how much you are willing to accept in exchange for your product’s or service’s use
- Step 5. Create the advertising standards and intellectual property rights by which the transaction is governed
- Step 6. Speak with franchising lawyers to help you translate your notes and conversations into a cohesive document
- Step 7. Revisit with the franchisor to review the terms and conditions
- Step 8. Schedule a franchise agreement signing for both parties
- Step 9. Make copies for the franchisor and franchisee and distribute them
- Step 10. Store your franchise agreement in a safe place and preferably with your other documents
Getting a franchise agreement together is a fairly straightforward process. However, there are legal and financial issues that you must consider carefully. The idea behind a franchise is to help you make a tremendous amount of money and gain brand recognition. Ensure that your documents reflect the level at which you operate.
Types of Franchise Agreements
At their core, a franchise agreement establishes how the franchisor and franchisee will operate together. It also outlines what duties and responsibilities must be upheld by both sides. However, specific franchise agreement types may work better for one situation over another.
There are seven types of franchise agreements, including:
- Master franchise agreements. A contract granting the master franchisee the right to recruit, manage and support sub-franchisees within a particular geographic territory.
- Product distribution franchise agreements. In this type of agreement, the franchisor confers the right to sell its products under its brand name without necessarily using its business processes or systems.
- Job franchise agreements. An agreement granting the franchisee the rights to a specific service, rather than a full store or business location, offering specialized services under that franchisor's trade name.
- Conversion franchise agreements. In this contract, the business owner converts their existing, standalone business, into a franchised location of a larger franchisor's brand. This allows the owner of the business to utilize the franchisor's brand while continuing to operate in a familiar market or location with existing customers.
- Investment franchise agreements. In this contract, an individual obtains a financial interest in a franchising business, as opposed to obtaining rights to operate a location or distribute a product or service.
- Business format franchise agreements. In this franchising model, the franchisor confers the right to its product, service, trademark, and system of operating the business, which could include site selection, development, operating manuals, training, marketing, and other business processes, to assist the franchisee.
- Area development agreements. Under an area development agreement, the franchisee receives the right to open a number of franchisees within a specific location for a period of time.
For many situations, a master franchise agreement is sufficient. However, your needs may be different according to your industry, market, and geographic location.
Key Elements of a Franchise Agreement
Franchise agreements primarily contain the same elements regardless of the type you use. There may be critical differences, however, if you need a highly specialized agreement. As such, you should always seek a customized option when drafting your contracts.
The key elements of a franchise agreement generally include:
- Territory rights. The geographic area where a franchisee is permitted to operate and develop the franchised business.
- Minimum performance standards. The franchisor's requirements of the franchisee for benchmark sales, revenue, or other metrics.
- Franchisors services requirements. The franchisor's obligation to provide certain marketing, business development, or other services to support the franchisee.
- Franchisee payments. The royalty payments a franchisee must make to the franchisor, typically a percentage of net revenue.
- Trademark use. The license obtain by the franchisee to use the brand and other marks of the franchisor to promote its business.
- Advertising standards. The baseline advertising requirements for the franchisee when promoting the franchisor's products.
- Exclusivity clause. The right of the franchisee to sell or distribute the franchisor's products within a given territory.
- Insurance requirements. The obligation of the franchisee to insure against business losses and other liabilities.
Carefully consider the elements as referenced above. They will set the tone and foundation for the relationship you share with your franchisors. Ensure that your franchise agreements contain the necessary provisions and elements for accuracy and completeness.
Parties Involved in Franchise Agreement
The parties involved in a franchise agreement are the franchisor and franchisee. While there may be third parties involved, such as franchising lawyers and insurance companies, the center of a franchise agreement applies the primary principles described below.
Franchisor
Franchisors are the entities or individuals who license and sell their franchise rights to a franchisee. They sell the licensing, branding, and intellectual property rights to them. The business that is selling their rights is called the franchise and can exist as a brick-and-mortar business or an online company, or both.
Here is an article that goes further into a Franchisor.
Franchisee
Franchisees are the entities or individuals who purchase franchise rights from a franchisor. They are typically entrepreneurial small business owners that have experience in the industry. If you are a franchisor, you should select franchisees capable of upholding the standards and procedures you created.
Here is an article on what franchisors look for in a franchisee.
Sample Clauses from Franchise Agreement
Grant of Franchise
1.1. Grant. We have the exclusive right to operate and to license others to operate a tax return preparation business using our Operating System. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, we grant to you, subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.7-3.9 below, a license to use the Marks and our proprietary business methods and software to operate an income tax return preparation business identified by the Jackson Hewitt Marks solely at approved locations in the Territory described on Schedule A. Neither we nor an affiliate will operate or license others to operate in the Territory an income tax return preparation business using the Marks and the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® proprietary software and business methods, subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.7-3.9 below.
1.2. Number of Locations. You must open at least one office, either a Kiosk or a Standard Office, and such Processing Center(s) as specified in the Manual, in the Territory by the start of the first Tax Season after the Effective Date of this Agreement. By the start of the second Tax Season thereafter, one of your offices must be a Standard Office. For each subsequent Tax Season you must maintain a Standard Office. Once you open a Kiosk, you may not discontinue operating the Kiosk for any Tax Season without our consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed if the closure criteria in the Manual are met, unless you are unable to rent space in the National Account or Affinity Location where the Kiosk previously operated.
Performance Standards
Initial Performance. You must prepare 500 or more federal income tax returns in the Territory in your second Tax Season. If you do not prepare at least 500 federal income tax returns in your second Tax Season, you must (i) submit to us a business improvement plan by June 1 following your second Tax Season that we approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (ii) implement the business improvement plan, and (iii) prepare 600 or more federal income tax returns in the Territory in your third Tax Season. We may require you to open a second Standard Office or Kiosk as part of the business improvement plan. If you do not satisfy all of these conditions, we may, in our discretion, terminate this Agreement for cause by written notice to you given after May 1 following your third Tax Season.
Continuing Performance. You must prepare 1,000 or more federal income tax returns in the Territory in your fifth Tax Season and each Tax Season after that. If you prepare more than 600 federal income tax returns and fewer than 1,000 federal income tax returns in the fifth or any subsequent Tax Season, you must (i) submit to us a business improvement plan by June 1 following such Tax Season that we approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (ii) implement the business improvement plan, and (iii) prepare 1,000 or more federal income tax returns in the Territory in your next Tax Season. If you do not satisfy all of these conditions, we may, in our discretion, terminate this Agreement for cause by written notice to you given between May 1 and September 1 following that Tax Season.
Minimum Performance. If you prepare fewer than 600 federal income tax returns in the Territory in any Tax Season beginning with your fifth Tax Season, we may, in our discretion, terminate this Agreement for cause by written notice to you given between May 1 and September 1 following that Tax Season.
For Small Market Territories, all tax return preparation numerical requirements set forth in paragraph 2.3 are reduced by 35%.
Territory
Your Territory. The area within which you may operate the Franchised Business is described on Schedule A to this Agreement. You may not operate the Franchised Business at any location outside the Territory. You expressly acknowledge and agree that we can operate or grant a license to others to operate a franchised business at any location outside the Territory.
Competition. We will not operate the Franchised Business in your Territory except as provided in this paragraph and in paragraphs 3.7-3.9 herein. We may commercialize and distribute or license or sublicense others to commercialize and distribute our proprietary software in the Territory through other channels of distribution using the name “Jackson Hewitt” and the Marks or using other trade names and Marks to identify the software.
Business Outside the Territory. You may not locate your Franchised Business office or Processing Center at any location outside the Territory. You may perform the authorized services in your Territory for customers who reside outside the Territory, but you may not travel outside your Territory to perform tax preparation or other services authorized by this Agreement.
Royalty Fees
Royalties. During the term of this Agreement, you must pay us royalty fees equal to fifteen percent (15%) of your Gross Volume of Business.
Royalty Payment Schedule. The royalty fees are due and payable according to the following schedule or on such other schedule specified in the Manual:
(a) Semi-Monthly Payments. From January 1 through April 15, you must pay royalties on the 5th and the 20th of the month for the Gross Volume of Business generated during the preceding half month. For the period from April 16 through April 30, you must pay royalties on the following May 5th.
(b) Monthly Payments. From May 1 through December 31, your royalty payment is due on the 5th of each month for the Gross Volume of Business generated during the prior month.
Reference:
Security Exchange Commission - Edgar Database, EX-10.8 5 dex108.htm FORM OF FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, Viewed May 14, 2021, < https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1283552/000119312504065633/dex108.htm >.
Image via Pexels by Norma Mortenson
Getting Help With a Franchise Agreement
You do not have to feel overwhelmed by the prospect of drafting your franchise agreements. Getting help with a franchise agreement and understanding small business law is as straightforward as speak with an intellectual property lawyer. It is usually much more affordable hire a legal professional to hire a legal professional than you think.
Here are a few persuasive reasons as to why you will want to get legal help with a franchise agreement:
Reason 1. Affordability
Franchising lawyers generally work on a flat fee or quoted hourly rate. This strategy ensures that franchisors can predict their legal fees rather than pay a hefty retainer. Hiring an attorney is always well worth the investment due to the level of protection that they provide.
Here is ContractsCounsel’s attorney fees data page.
Reason 2. A Worthy Investment
If you are serious about franchising your company, you need to have a legal agreement that reflects these values. Experienced businesspeople can spot an incomplete or inadequate contract a mile away. Maximize your opportunities to attract aligned individuals by making the investment in a professional and polished franchise agreement.
Reason 3. Form Key Relationships
Have you ever noticed that people only call an attorney after a problem arises? At this point, it is already too late to do anything about the issue or dispute. By hiring an attorney to draft your franchise agreements, you establish a relationship with a legal professional that understands your business and upon whom you can call at any time a question arises.
Reason 4. Protecting Your Rights
Your franchise lawyer can also review new and existing contracts as you draft and receive them. Document management and legal reviews can become time-consuming activities for busy company managers. You can delegate these responsibilities to your legal team.
Reason 5. Negotiation Assistance
Negotiation is not an activity that franchisees and franchisors approach regularly. While there is some familiarity with the process required, having an experienced professional on your side can elevate your results. Consider bringing in an intellectual property or franchising lawyer into your negotiation discussions.
Meet some of our Franchise Agreement Lawyers
Terence B.
Terry Brennan is an experienced corporate, intellectual property and emerging company transactions attorney who has been a partner at two national Wall Street law firms and a trusted corporate counsel. He focuses on providing practical, cost-efficient and creative legal advice to entrepreneurs, established enterprises and investors for business, corporate finance, intellectual property and technology transactions. As a partner at prominent law firms, Terry's work centered around financing, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities transactions, outsourcing and structuring of business entities to protect, license, finance and commercialize technology, manufacturing, digital media, intellectual property, entertainment and financial assets. As the General Counsel of IBAX Healthcare Systems, Terry was responsible for all legal and related business matters including health information systems licensing agreements, merger and acquisitions, product development and regulatory issues, contract administration, and litigation. Terry is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an Editor of the law review. He is active in a number of economic development, entrepreneurial accelerators, veterans and civic organizations in Florida and New York.
Christopher R.
Corporate and transactional attorney in sixth year of practice. Focus areas include general corporate counsel, labor and employment law, business partnership matters, securities matters related to privately-held companies, and regulatory compliance in securities and finance matters.
Zachary J.
I am a solo-practitioner with a practice mostly consisting of serving as a fractional general counsel to growth stage companies. With a practical business background, I aim to bring real-world, economically driven solutions to my client's legal problems and pride myself on efficient yet effective work.
Rosario A.
I'm a Washington-licensed lawyer specializing in trademark practice and with an extensive trademark education and academic background. I currently work with domestic and international businesses seeking trademark protection in the U.S. by conducting trademark searches, providing legal advice, submitting USPTO applications, and preparing responses to office actions. I'm passionate about trademark law and always looking forward to helping small and medium businesses promote their value by having a registered federal trademark. If you have questions or concerns about trademark/copyright/IP licensing and require legal advice, feel free to contact me and we can have a first chat.
August 18, 2020
Braden P.
Braden Perry is a corporate governance, regulatory and government investigations attorney with Kennyhertz Perry, LLC. Mr. Perry has the unique tripartite experience of a white-collar criminal defense and government compliance, investigations, and litigation attorney at a national law firm; a senior enforcement attorney at a federal regulatory agency; and the Chief Compliance Officer/Chief Regulatory Attorney of a global financial institution. Mr. Perry has extensive experience advising clients in federal inquiries and investigations, particularly in enforcement matters involving technological issues. He couples his technical knowledge and experience defending clients in front of federal agencies with a broad-based understanding of compliance from an institutional and regulatory perspective.
August 18, 2020
William F.
William L Foster has been practicing law since 2006 as an attorney associate for a large litigation firm in Denver, Colorado. His experience includes drafting business contracts, organizational filings, and settlement agreements.
August 24, 2020
Jeffrey P.
Mr. Pomeranz serves as the principal of Pomeranz Law PLLC, a boutique law firm representing clients across myriad industries and verticals. Before founding the firm, Mr. Pomeranz served as Senior Vice President, Legal & Compliance and General Counsel of Mortgage Connect, LP in 2017. Mr. Pomeranz also served as Counsel, Transactions for Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. (NASDAQ: ASPS) beginning in 2013, and was based in the company’s C-Suite in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Mr. Pomeranz began his career with Mainline Information Systems, Inc. as an in-house attorney.
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Browse Lawyers NowBusiness Contracts
Franchise Agreement
New York
How do you draw up a Contract to ensure mutual Ownership
My partner and I own a Hospitality Company, he was offered the opportunity to Opérate a business and get 25% ownership of the franchise. We want to join this jointly and ensure ownership is split according to our partnership for our LLC. How would we go about doing this?
Jane C.
I suggest that the LLC, you jointly own, join the franchise. Consult with an attorney.
Business Contracts
Franchise Agreement
Pennsylvania
I need help getting out of a franchise agreement and not paying the upfront fee
I have signed an agreement with nurse next door but that a crisis happened in my life that i had to spend my start up funds for, and now i cant start because i will end up filling for bankruptcy. And i told them this they did not reconsider pulling the agreement i signed when i have not started anything i have not take their training or and did not start doing the home care license and i don't have access to any of there software I just signed so is there a way that i could get out since i have not started anything please i can’t afford this anymore i used to when i signed but life happened
Ryan W.
Hi I am sorry to hear about the crisis going on in your personal life. Unfortunately, the best answer I can provide is that "it depends." Once you sign a valid contract, the terms of the contract will likely control how you get out of that contract. Some contracts will have a rescission clause that will let you terminate if done so within a prescribed period of time. Others may have written notice requirements or other actions that are needed before the contract can be terminated. It is tough to tell you exactly how you can terminate your contract without first reviewing it.
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