Question: Do I need legal advice when buying a franchise?
Answer:Yes. Franchise agreements are very complicated and are usually drafted by the franchisor, who will include terms favourable to their interests and not the franchisee’s. It is a requirement that both franchisees and franchisors get independent legal advice, so it is imperative that a potential franchisee has a good franchise lawyer review the agreement and clarify their contractual rights and obligations. Franchise agreements are difficult to terminate and can often be set for a long period of time, say, 10 years, which is a long committment. You want to make sure you are not agreeing to terms that may make things very difficult for you in the future.
