A franchise offers a proven brand and system, but the franchise agreement gives the franchisor extensive control over how you run your business, for many years. Before you invest, you should understand exactly what you are agreeing to. For brands looking to expand through franchising, New York is one of the states with its own franchise registration law, and compliance matters from the very first sale.
For franchisees
Before you sign, we review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with you, including:
- The total investment, initial fees, ongoing royalties, advertising fund contributions and required purchases
- The franchisor’s financial condition, litigation history and how its existing franchisees are performing
- Your territory, and whether the franchisor can open competing locations nearby
- Renewal, transfer and termination rights, and the non-compete that applies after you leave
- The site lease, which must work alongside the franchise agreement. See Commercial Lease Review.
We negotiate where terms can be changed and help you form the entity that will own the franchise. If you are buying an existing franchise location from another franchisee, we handle both the business purchase and the franchisor’s transfer approval.
For franchisors
We help established businesses, including overseas brands entering the U.S., evaluate whether franchising is right for them, prepare the FDD and franchise agreement, register in New York before offering franchises, and protect their brand through trademark registration.
Our approach
Franchise relationships last for years. We help both sides begin on clear terms, and when disputes do arise, we bring the experience of our commercial litigation practice.