Florida Franchise Law
Florida is a franchise filing state. While Florida has not enacted franchise-specific laws and is not a full franchise registration state, franchisors must comply with the Florida Sale of Business Opportunities Act. This requires filing an annual Franchise Exemption Notice with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services before offering or selling franchises.
When filing, you are certifying that your franchise offering is supported by a current and compliant Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) in accordance with the Federal Franchise Rule.
For legal representation and compliance support, see our Florida Franchise Lawyer page.
Florida Franchise Filing FAQ's
The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates the enforcement of the Sale of Business Opportunities Act and oversees annual exemption filings.
You must maintain a current, compliant FDD and disclose it in compliance with FTC requirements. When filing the annual exemption, you provide:
- Legal name of your franchise company
- Franchise brand name(s)
- Principal business address and contact information
- Tax ID number
- Signed acknowledgment from an authorized officer certifying compliance with the Federal Franchise Rule
Franchise exemption applications are filed with FDACS and must include the $100 filing fee (payable to FDACS).
Mailing address:
FDACS
P.O. Box 6700
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6700
Tel: (800) 435-7352
Yes. Your exemption is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Renewal applications should be submitted 60 days before expiration.
Failure to file could subject your franchise offering to the full Florida Business Opportunity Laws, creating additional disclosure and compliance obligations.
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