When purchasing a franchise, it’s important to evaluate, understand, and negotiate the assigned territory; this is the area within which your location is protected by the franchise agreement. If you’re not mindful of the territory and terms of the agreement, you could potentially set yourself up for challenges down the road. Here’s what you need to know.

I’ve stressed the importance of trademarks on many occasions. In short, owning (and controlling) the brand name is essential on the journey of franchising. It’s one of the many reasons that California cannabis companies can’t franchise. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we took a page out of Disney’s book and everything finished with a happy ending? Unfortunately, real life doesn’t include fairy godmothers, genies, and an endless stream of happy endings. In the franchising world, disputes happen. When they can’t be resolved in-house, the two parties end up in litigation.

So you’ve found a franchise you want to buy into and are eager to jumpstart the process. Then comes navigating all the paperwork. At this point, you’ll be introduced to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). If you’ve never studied law, this is likely the most legalese you’ve ever seen.