What are the regulations surrounding the sale of a franchise?
In Texas, there are several laws and regulations that must be followed when selling a franchise. The most important laws that govern the sale of a franchise are the Texas Franchise Act and the Federal Trade Commission Rule. Under the Texas Franchise Act, franchisors must provide prospective franchisees with a disclosure document containing all the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement. This document must contain information about the franchisor, the business plan, products or services offered, the initial and continuing fees, and any restrictions imposed by the franchisor. Prospective franchisees must be given at least 14 days to review the document before signing the agreement. The Federal Trade Commission Rule requires that franchisors provide prospective franchisees with a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). This document must include information about the franchisor, the franchise system, the environment in which the franchise will operate, the terms of the franchise agreement, and any restrictions imposed by the franchisor. The FDD must also disclose all fees associated with the franchise, as well as any potential litigation the franchisor is involved in. These two laws are designed to protect potential franchisees from entering into agreements that they don’t understand and that don’t protect their interests. In addition, franchisors must comply with all applicable federal and state laws, as well as local zoning ordinances. Failure to do so could result in fines, suspension or revocation of the franchise agreement, or even legal action.
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