You have decided to run your own franchise but have been asked to sign a franchise agreement which appears totally one-sided in favour of the franchisor and which you are told is non-negotiable.
The franchisor has hopefully advised you to instruct a solicitor to review the franchise agreement on your behalf.
A solicitor who does not understand franchising will often seek to negotiate and change the franchise agreement whilst telling you that its terms are unreasonable and you should not sign it.
As experienced franchise solicitors we are able to report on the franchise agreement, review it in line with the British Franchise Association Code of Ethics, provide you with a report highlighting your rights and duties, any terms or provisions that may be unusual or onerous, any terms or provisions which may be omitted and which we would expect to see in the agreement as well as highlighting any areas that you need to clarify or discuss with the franchisor.
If the franchisor does agree to change or clarify anything in the agreement then standard practice is to set these out in a legally-binding side letter which the parties sign and which is attached to the agreement.
Our fees for producing the report are undertaken on a fixed fee basis in the region of £750 – £1000 and can be produced within 5-10 days.