Franchise Your Business: State Registrations
When considering how to franchise your business, the legal requirements needed to offer a franchise opportunity are something to know and understand prior to making the leap into the franchise market. The Federal Trade Commission is the federal entity that oversees franchise distribution, but the states have their own set of regulations and requirements that need to be addressed in order to be deemed compliant to offer a franchise model.
There are fifteen states that require registration in order to offer or market a franchise there. When considering whether to franchise your business, these stipulations come into place as to whether you should register in a state:
1. The State Where the Franchisor is Domiciled.
2. The State Where the Franchisee is a Resident.
3. The State Where the Franchise Sales Presentation takes Place.
4. The State Where The Franchisee Incorporates their Business.
5. The State Where the Franchisor Legally Files the Entity.
Here is a breakdown of the states that require registration in order to offer a franchise model. Each of these states will have a different registration process that scrutinizes the franchisor regarding its ability to support a franchisee in their state. When looking to franchise your business, typically, the state will want to know the financials of the franchise organization, review the UFDD and have a state-specific application filled out in addition to paying an annual state registration fee.
CALIFORNIA
Franchise Division Department of Corporations 1515 K Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95814
Registration Fee California $ 675
HAWAII
Commissioner of Securities Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division Securities Compliance Branch 335 Merchant Street, Room 203, Honolulu, HA 96813
Registration Fee $125
ILLINOIS
Franchise Division Office of Attorney General 500 South Second Street
Registration Fee $500
INDIANA
Franchise Division Office of Secretary of State 302 W. Washington St., Rm. E111 Indianapolis, IN 46204 ( MARYLAND Office of the Attorney General Division of Securities 200 St Paul Place Baltimore, Maryland21202-2020
Registration Fee Indiana $ 500
MARYLAND
Office of the Attorney General Division of Securities 200 St Paul Place Baltimore, Maryland21202-2020
Registration Fee Maryland $ 500
MICHIGAN
Consumer Protection Division Franchise Section PO Box 30213 Lansing MI 48909
Registration fee Michigan $250
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Department of Commerce 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, MN 55101-2198
Registration Fee Minnesota $400
NORTH DAKOTA
Franchise Division Office of Securities Commission 600 East Boulevard - 5th Floor Bismarck, ND 58505
Registration Fee North Dakota $250
NEW YORK
Franchise & Securities Division State Department of Law 120 Broadway 23rd Floor New York NY 10271
Registration Fee New York $ 750
OREGON
Corporate Securities Section
Dept. of Insurance & Finance
Labor & Industries Bldg.
Salem, OR 97310
RHODE ISLAND
Franchise Office Division of Securities 233 Richmond St., Suite 232 Providence, RI 02903
Registration Fee Rhode Island $ 500
SOUTH DAKOTA
Department of Revenue and Regulation Division of Securities 445 East Capitol Ave. Pierre, SD 57501
Registration Fee South Dakota $250
VIRGINIA
State Corporation Division of Securities 1300 E. Main St. 1st Floor Richmond, VA 23219
Registration Fee Virginia $ 500
WASHINGTON (STATE)
The Department of Financial Institutions Securities Division P.O. Box 9033 Olympia, WA 98507-9033
Registration Fee Washington $ 600
WISCONSIN
Department of Financial Institutions Division of Securities 345 West Washington Ave., 4th Floor Madison, WI 53703
Registration Fee Wisconsin $ 400
For more information on how to Franchise Your Business, contact Franchise Marketing Systems corporate office, (800) 610-0292.
FMS is a team of expert franchise consulting professionals based in Canada that provides solutions for franchise development, franchise consultation, and expansion of businesses globally.