Phoenix, Arizona, Franchise Lawyers
It is not uncommon for franchisees who face a substantial long term financial investment in a franchise to want to cut costs on legal counsel prior to purchasing their franchise thinking that legal fees are something to be incurred only in the midst of a dispute or in the event that things go awry and the franchisee would like to leave the franchise altogether.
Unfortunately, this can be a very expensive mistake in the long run. Seeking the advice of counsel prior to purchase of the franchise should be seen as part of the overall business investment. For one thing, not all legal advice is bad news. If the franchise is all that the franchisee dreamed it should be, the franchisee can have the peace of mind of a decision well made. More importantly, not all legal matters pertaining to franchises are about possible disputes. The franchise agreement and the Federal Disclosure Document are legal agreements. They set out the rights and obligations of the franchisor and franchisee. The franchise relationship is a long one. Arizona does not have a specific Franchise Protection Statute and the franchise attorney could be the franchisees best alternative.
Reviewing the Franchise Agreement, FDD or UFOC
It is important that the franchisee be clear of his or her rights and obligations not just to stay out of trouble with the franchisor, but to make sure that the business is run effectively. In short, keep these things in mind if you are interested in purchasing a franchise and are not sure whether you want to pay a franchise lawyer to review your franchise documents prior to purchase of the franchise.
- The franchise is a business. You need to make sure that your expectations in purchasing that business continued to be met over the life of the contract. It is not uncommon for franchise agreements to have terms of 10, 15 or even 20 years.
- The franchise agreement and the Federal Disclosure document are legal contracts and in most cases the franchisee signs as a personal guaranty. While the basic business terms may be clear to even a business savvy franchisee, there may be legalese or legal consequences of certain terms that require the advice of a franchise attorney.
- From merely a business point of view, a franchisee wants to make sure that the elements that are required to make the specific franchise work as a solid business over the life of the franchise term are in place. Good franchises often require ongoing support, training, fair distribution of advertising funds and other business elements that may not be apparent at certain stages of the franchise process. An experienced franchise lawyer with litigation experience can often spot which key terms may be missing from a franchise agreement and help a franchisee determine what is "typical" and what may be problemmatic over the course of the franchise.
Know Your Rights Prior to Purchasing a Franchise and Protect Your Business.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Peter N. Greenfeld P. C. are experienced franchise attorneys, and can work with you to know your rights before you purchase a franchise. They can help you determine if a particular franchise meets your specific business needs and prepare you for reviewing other franchise alternatives. We have worked with numerous franchisees and franchisors, and can work to assist you in making your franchise purchase.
Contact Us
We have worked with a broad range of businesses and industries, and can help you feel comfortable before you make a long term investment to purchase a franchise. If you have franchising questions, contact us at 602-954-2200 for answers and representation. We are licensed in both Arizona and California, are conveniently located in Phoenix's Camelback Corridor.
Franchising is a key practice area of the firm. We provide general information on our franchising law blog. If you are a Franchisee or Franchisor, click here for more information on our franchise practice.
The Law Office of Peter N. Greenfeld P. C.
4500 North 32nd Street, Suite 109
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: 602-954-2200
Fax 602-956-4232