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The offer and sale of a franchise requires compliance with federal and state franchise laws. Franchisors must develop, maintain, register, and disclose a uniform Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). The FDD must be registered in the franchise registration states, filed in the franchise filing states, and disclosed in every state to a prospective franchisee. Franchisors must manage and maintain their FDD, franchise disclosures and franchise relationships in compliance with a broad range of state franchise regulations and state franchise relationship laws.
At the federal level franchising is regulated by the Federal Franchise Rule and franchise regulations implemented and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. Franchisors must disclose a properly issued and current franchise disclosure document 14 days before offering or selling a franchise. Under the federal rule, franchise compliance is largely self-regulated and franchisors are not required to file or register their FDD with any federal agency.
At the state level there are various franchise registration, filing, disclosure, and relationship laws that are imposed on franchisors and that vary from state-by-state. States that require FDD registration are known as the franchise registration states and, typically, impose the most stringent franchise laws and regulations. Franchise registration states require annual FDD registration, franchise filing states require either one-time or annual franchise filings, and non-registration states do not require any FDD registration or filings. Below we include links and information related to the state specific franchise laws. The Franchise map is interactive and links to state specific pages that outline the franchise requirements for each state.
This franchise registration map and each state designation assumes that your trademarks are registered with the USPTO. If not, laws in CT, NC, SC, GA, LA and ME require franchise registration or filings. See state specific info below.
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Alabama
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Alaska
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Arizona
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Arkansas
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $675
Additional information about franchising in California
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Colorado
Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing) if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $400
Additional information about franchising in Connecticut
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Delaware
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in the District of Columbia
Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Filing Fee: $100
Additional information about franchising in Florida
Status: Non-Registration State if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
State Filing Fee: $0
Additional information about franchising in Georgia
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in Hawaii
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Idaho
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Illinois
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Indiana
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Iowa
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Kansas
Status: Franchise Filing State
Additional information about franchising in Kentucky
Status: Non-Registration State if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
Additional information about franchising in Louisiana
Status: Non-Registration State if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $25
Additional information about franchising in Maine
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Maryland
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Massachusetts
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in Michigan
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $400
Additional information about franchising in Minnesota
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Mississippi
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Missouri
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Montana
Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
State Registration Fee: $100
Additional information about franchising in Nebraska
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Nevada
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Hampshire
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Jersey
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Mexico
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $750
Additional information about franchising in New York
Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing) if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in North Carolina
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in North Dakota
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Ohio
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Oklahoma
Status: Franchise Regulation State (no filing)
Additional information about franchising in Oregon
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Pennsylvania
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $600
Additional information about franchising in Rhode Island
Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing required) if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $0.00
Additional information about franchising in South Carolina
Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Filing Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in South Dakota
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Tennessee
Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
State Registration Fee: $25
Additional information about franchising in Texas
Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Registration Fee: $100.00
Additional information about franchising in Utah
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Vermont
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Virginia
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $600
Additional information about franchising in Washington
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in West Virginia
Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $400
Additional information about franchising in Wisconsin
Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Wyoming
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