Before You Sign a Franchise Agreement, Know Exactly What You're Agreeing To
The franchise agreement is the actual binding contract. It governs every aspect of your relationship with the franchisor for the next 10 to 20 years. Lopes Law reviews, explains, and negotiates franchise agreements for franchisees and franchisors nationally, with flat fees and no hourly billing.
Flat fees. No hourly billing. Free initial consultation.
What Most People Don't Know About Their Franchise Agreement
The FDD gets most of the attention, but the franchise agreement is the document you actually sign. These are the provisions that trip franchisees up most often.
It Is Not the Same as the FDD
The FDD describes the franchise system. The franchise agreement is the contract you sign. They can differ in important ways. We compare both, identify inconsistencies, and make sure the agreement matches what you were told during the sales process.
More Is Negotiable Than You're Told
Franchisors often present the agreement as standard and non-negotiable. For many provisions, that is not true. Territory, renewal terms, personal guarantee scope, transfer fees, and opening timelines get negotiated regularly by franchisees with the right attorney.
The Personal Guarantee Can Follow You
Most franchise agreements include a personal guarantee that makes you personally liable for the franchise's obligations. We review the full scope of that guarantee, advise on what you're personally on the hook for, and in many cases negotiate limits or carve-outs.
Exit Is Harder Than Entry
Post-term non-competes, transfer approval requirements, default provisions, and liquidated damages clauses can make exiting the franchise significantly more difficult than entering it. We identify these before you sign, not after, so you understand what you're committing to.
Full Agreement Review, Not Just a Scan
We do not skim franchise agreements. We read every provision, compare it to the FDD, flag what matters, and negotiate on your behalf.
Full Agreement Review
We read every provision of the franchise agreement, not just the headline terms. We explain what each section means in plain language and flag anything unusual or one-sided relative to industry norms.
FDD vs. Agreement Comparison
We compare the franchise agreement against the FDD to identify discrepancies, inconsistencies, or terms that were described differently during the sales process. Gaps between the two documents are often where problems start.
Negotiation Strategy & Execution
We identify which provisions are worth pushing on, draft a negotiation strategy, and negotiate directly with the franchisor's legal team on your behalf. You do not need to handle this conversation yourself.
Personal Guarantee Review
We analyze the scope of any personal guarantee, assess your personal exposure, identify spousal or entity-level protections available to you, and advise on whether and how to negotiate its terms.
Multi-Unit & Area Development Agreements
Multi-unit and area development agreements carry significantly more commitment than a single-unit franchise agreement. We review the development schedule obligations, default provisions, and territory protections specific to these arrangements.
Renewal & Transfer Review
Already operating and facing a renewal or transfer? We review the new or revised terms, identify what changed from the original agreement, flag new obligations or restrictions, and advise on your options before you sign again.
Straightforward Process. No Surprises.
Free Consultation
We learn where you are in the process and what you need reviewed. No charge, no obligation.
Flat Fee Quote
We give you a clear upfront fee before any work begins. No hourly billing and no open-ended invoices.
Full Review
We review the franchise agreement, compare it to the FDD, and prepare a written summary of findings. Typical turnaround is 3 to 5 business days.
Negotiation
If you want to push for better terms, we handle the negotiation directly with the franchisor's counsel until you have an agreement you're comfortable signing.
We've Written These Agreements. We Know Where to Push.
Because we represent franchisors as well as franchisees, we know exactly what each provision in a franchise agreement is designed to do and where franchisors will and won't move.
We Draft These Agreements for Franchisors
We know what every provision is designed to do because we write them. That inside knowledge gives us a precise read on what is standard, what is aggressive, and what the franchisor's attorney actually has room to change.
BigLaw Training, Direct Access
Managing Partner Anthony Lopes trained at Duane Morris LLP, an AmLaw 100 national firm. You work directly with Anthony throughout the review and negotiation process, not a paralegal or junior associate.
Flat Fees Only
You know the cost of your agreement review before any work begins. No hourly billing and no invoice surprises. Negotiation support is quoted separately, also at a flat fee.
We Work on Your Timeline
Franchise agreements have signing deadlines. We move quickly, communicate clearly, and prioritize clients who are time-constrained. You will not miss a deadline waiting on us.
Anthony reviewed our franchise agreement before we signed and flagged three provisions we would never have caught ourselves. He explained everything in plain language, helped us negotiate better territory terms, and gave us the confidence to sign knowing exactly what we were agreeing to.
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Anthony Lopes has spent his career on both sides of the franchise relationship. He drafts franchise agreements for franchisors and reviews them for franchisees, which means he brings a complete understanding of what every provision is designed to accomplish and where the negotiating room actually is.
Before founding Lopes Law, he trained and practiced at Duane Morris LLP, one of the country's largest law firms. He holds a J.D. from Temple University's James E. Beasley School of Law and an LL.M. in Taxation.
When you hire Lopes Law for a franchise agreement review, you work directly with Anthony from the first consultation through the final negotiation. No handoffs.
Common Questions About Franchise Agreement Review
Ready to Review Your Franchise Agreement?
Your first consultation is free. Share your franchise agreement, tell us where you are in the process, and we will give you an honest assessment of what it contains and what your options are.
No commitment. No pressure. A real conversation with an attorney who has been on both sides of these agreements.
145 Greenwood Ave, Suite 400, Wyncote, PA 19095
Serving Clients Nationally
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