Franchise lawyers for business owners building or growing a brand
You built something that works. Now you are thinking about franchising it, or you already have and you want to grow it right. That takes more than a good idea. It takes a franchise system that holds up under state law and gives franchisees a clear deal.
EntrePartner is a franchise law firm built by people who have run businesses. We approach franchise law from a business perspective, because the goal is not to produce legal documents. It is to build a franchise system that protects the brand, supports responsible growth, and works in the real world.
We help franchisors across the country set up their systems, stay legal, and grow without stepping on a landmine. We represent franchise buyers and existing franchisees too, so we know how a franchise agreement reads from both sides of the table.
Call 612-431-9661 or contact our attorneys to talk through where your brand is today.
Schedule a Consultation➔Find the franchise legal service you need
Whether you are preparing to franchise for the first time, managing an established system, or evaluating a franchise opportunity, we can help.
For franchisors or potential franchisors building or growing a brand
Franchisor Lawyer
We help businesses develop the legal foundation for a franchise system, including the FDD, franchise agreement, state registrations, and set up the system so your first sale is legal.
Franchise Compliance
We help franchisors manage ongoing disclosure, registration, sales compliance, financial performance representation, and other legal requirements that arise as a franchise system grows.
FDD Renewals and Amendments
We manage annual (or more frequent) FDD updates and state franchise renewals, so you never lose the right to sell.
Multi-Unit Franchise Development
We structure area and multi-unit development deals with clear territory, development schedules, default provisions, and other terms designed for larger franchise relationships.
Restaurant Franchising
We help restaurant founders and operators turn one location into a franchise brand the legal way and prepare to franchise the right way.
For people buying or selling one or more franchised locations
FDD Review
On a flat fee basis, we review the FDD and franchise agreement so you understand the financial, operational, and legal obligations you are taking on before you sign, and compare terms and potential risks across systems.
Franchise Agreement Negotiation
We identify the provisions that matter most in the franchise relationship and negotiate practical changes where appropriate.
Franchise Resale
We help franchise owners navigate sales and transfers, including purchase agreements, franchisor approval requirements, and related transaction documents.
Franchise Your Business
Should you franchise?
You have a proven model, and people keep asking how they can open one too. Franchising turns that demand into growth. But a franchise is a regulated offer, not a handshake.
Not every business should franchise. The model has to be repeatable, profitable for the franchisee, easy to teach, and able to grow without losing what made it work. We help emerging franchisors answer that before they spend a dollar.
What a franchise system needs
Once you decide to move ahead, a real franchise system has a few core parts.
- A Franchise Disclosure Document, or FDD, with the disclosures federal and state law require
- A franchise agreement that sets the rights and obligations on both sides
- State registrations or filings where they apply
- An operations manual so franchisees can run the business the same way every time
- A compliant way to market and sell franchises
Franchising is one of the most regulated ways to grow. Federal law governs disclosure, and many states add their own registration and filing rules on top. Miss one and you can lose the right to sell there. We build your system to meet those rules from day one.
Cost depends on the business, the documents, and how many states you start in. We use flat, predictable fees so you know the legal cost before the work begins.
Ready to build your franchise system? Talk to a franchise lawyer at EntrePartner. Call 612-431-9661.
Grow Your Franchise Business
Keep the system compliant
Launching is only the beginning. Growth is where most legal trouble starts, because the rules do not pause while you expand.
Your FDD is not a one-time document. You update it every year, and again any time something big changes. Miss a renewal window in a filing state and your sales there stop until you fix it. We run the yearly update cycle so your filings stay current in every state you sell.
Staying compliant is the quiet part of growth. State filings, earnings claims, ad fund rules, and how your team talks to buyers all carry rules. A good pitch that crosses a line turns into a legal problem. We build the guardrails so your sales team can sell with confidence.
Scale without loose ends
Bigger deals bring bigger stakes. Area and multi-unit deals let one operator open several units, which speeds growth but raises the risk if the terms are loose. Territory, build-out timelines, and default rules all need to be tight. We write those deals so one stalled operator does not freeze a whole region.
Growth brings new legal questions too, from transfers and resales to vendor contracts, technology agreements, brand-standard changes, and ownership transitions. As the system gets more complex, the legal framework should grow with it.
Growing and want it to hold together? Talk to a franchise lawyer at EntrePartner. Call 612-431-9661.
Why franchisors work with EntrePartner
EntrePartner is a boutique business and franchise law firm, so you work with the partners who know your brand, not a rotating cast of associates. Our attorneys bring decades of big-firm and in-house work, including as general counsel of fast-growing franchisors, and have run companies of their own, which shapes the way we approach franchise law. We focus on practical solutions, clear advice, and legal structures that support the business rather than becoming an obstacle to it.
We also understand that emerging and growing franchise brands need cost visibility. Where the scope allows, we use reasonable and predictable fee structures so clients have a clearer understanding of legal costs before work begins.
And because we represent both franchisors and franchisees, we understand how franchise documents are evaluated from both sides of the table.
Buying a franchise instead of selling one? We work for buyers as well. Start with our FDD review and franchise agreement help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a franchise lawyer do?
A franchise lawyer helps with the laws around creating, selling, and running franchises. For franchisors, that means preparing the FDD and franchise agreement, handling state registrations and renewals, keeping franchise sales compliant, and structuring deals as the system grows. For buyers and franchisees, it means reviewing the FDD and agreement, negotiating key terms, and handling purchases, resales, and the issues that come up along the way.
Do I need a lawyer to franchise my business?
Honestly, yes. A franchise is a highly regulated offer under federal and state law. Selling one without a proper FDD is high-risk, and can void the sale and cost you in fines. Working with experienced franchise counsel can help ensure that the franchise offering is properly structured, disclosed, and registered before franchises are offered or sold.
How much does it cost to franchise a business?
Less than most people expect. You work directly with senior attorneys, without paying for the staffing layers and overhead of a big firm. The cost depends on your business, how complex the system is, and how many states you register in.
Keep in mind legal fees are only one piece. You may also pay for accounting, audited financials, an operations manual, branding, and state filing fees. We quote flat, predictable fees for most franchise projects so you know the legal cost up front.
What is an FDD?
An FDD, or Franchise Disclosure Document, is the disclosure document a franchisor must give a prospect before selling a franchise. It has 23 items covering the franchisor’s history, fees, investment, obligations, litigation, financial performance, franchisee information, financials, and the agreements you will sign. It must be updated every year, and amended when something material changes.
Do I have to file in every state?
No. Requirements vary by state. Some make you register before you sell there, some want a filing or notice, and many require nothing franchise-specific. What applies depends on where you offer and sell, and sometimes where you or the buyer are located.
We build a filing roadmap around where you plan to grow, so you hit the right states first without paying for ones you do not need yet.
Do you only work with Minnesota franchisors?
No. EntrePartner is based in Minneapolis and works with franchisors across the country. Franchise law is mostly federal, with state rules on top, so we handle brands wherever they sell.
Ready to create, grow, or protect your franchise? Talk to a franchise lawyer at EntrePartner. Call 612-431-9661 or contact our attorneys today.