Starting January 1, 2026, Maryland will launch a pilot “fast-track” program for franchisors renewing existing franchise registrations. This program applies only to franchisors already registered in Maryland whose fiscal year ends between December 24 and January 7, and who have no pending investigations or enforcement actions with the Maryland Securities Division.
Eligible franchisors may submit their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) – completed except for the audited financials – between January 1 and February 1 to receive an expedited initial review within 15 days. After pre-clearance, franchisors must file the updated FDD that includes the audited financials by April 10, 2026, to finalize renewal.
For franchisors who plan ahead and are able by February 1 to complete the annual FDD update (other than the audit), this new program offers a valuable opportunity to speed up renewal approval in Maryland and potentially get ahead of filing season bottlenecks.
