Franchise Lawyers

How to Find a Great Franchise Attorney

By KELLIE FOWLER

Obtaining a knowledgeable franchise attorney is the only way to protect yourself and your franchise future!

If you're looking into a franchise, you already know that this can be one of the most exciting times of your life. But don't let the exhilaration you're feeling get in the way of making smart decisions, including finding a franchise lawyer that looks out for your best interest, while navigating you through the legal ins and outs of a franchise.

Finding a franchise attorney can be as easy as surfing the Internet (there's lots of useful information at www.franchiselaw.org) or talking to other franchisers in your area or within your industry. Regardless of how you go about it, developing a partnership with a qualified franchise attorney is an absolute must!

Why Will I Need an Franchise Attorney?

If you're looking to become a franchisee, you will need an attorney to thoroughly review and explain the franchise agreement, to negotiate any necessary changes with the franchisor, to assist you as you organize a corporation, LLC (limited liability corporation) or other entity to own and operate a franchise, to review the proposed lease for the franchise location and to deal with transfer, termination, non-renewal and any other franchise law issues that you may encounter.

You can be certain of the need for experienced legal assistance when you start ironing out license agreements, contracts (including confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements, software licensing agreements, power of attorney, guarantees of the franchisee's performance of the franchise agreement and more).

As you wade through the information on this wesite, the need for a franchisee attorney will become crystal clear. So, how do you choose an attorney and what should you expect from your new legal eagle?

What to Expect from a Franchisee Attorney

Your franchise attorney will guide you through the maze of legal documents (as explained above) and ensure you are protected at every stage, thus reducing your liability. He or she can discuss with you the pros and cons of operating a franchise through an entity and help you decide which entity best suits your needs. He or she will review documents and contracts (there will be leases, service contracts, supply contracts and more) for you and will ensure you have a good understanding of exactly what is going on.

The Internet provides you with resources and information to begin your search and to help you understand the legalities involved in becoming a franchisee, as well as assistance in actually locating a franchise attorney. Thanks to modern technology, you can obtain the services and work hand-in-hand with a franchisee attorney in another location.

You can do thorough searches for franchise attorneys on Internet search engines, but perhaps the best way to find a reputable franchise attorney is by talking to other franchisees, both within your industry and your geographic location.

Franchisee Attorney Fees

No matter where your franchise attorney is located, you can expect to pay a flat fee for reviewing the proposed franchise agreement and providing you with a written analysis of such, which is usually around $1,000 to $1,300. From there, you may be charged flat fees per service (with no extra charges incurred for telephone calls, faxes, overtime, etc.) or an hourly fee (generally $200 to $300 per hour). You can also expect to be responsible for traveling costs incurred by your attorney (in the event he or she is needed at an on-site meeting) and above and beyond type costs, such as expedited shipping of documents, etc.

While this may sound expensive, when it comes to legal advice, you pay for what you get! And, when it comes to protecting yourself and your investment (both in the short-term and in the long-term), you need to seek out the very best. After all, your attorney will provide you with invaluable input every step of the way that will serve to protect you while enabling you to achieve the success you desire as a franchisee.

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