State Specific Laws

State Specific Franchise Laws for Franchisors

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.

Federal Franchise 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.

State Franchise Laws

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.

Below is a list of each state, their franchise registration status, and information about their franchise laws:

Alabama

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Alabama

Alaska

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Alaska

Arizona

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Arizona

Arkansas

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Arkansas

California

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $675
Additional information about franchising in California

Colorado

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Colorado

Connecticut

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

Delaware

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Delaware

District of Columbia (DC)

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in the District of Columbia

Florida

Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Filing Fee: $100
Additional information about franchising in Florida

Georgia

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

Hawaii

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in Hawaii

Idaho

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Idaho

Illinois

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Illinois

Indiana

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Indiana

Iowa

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Iowa

Kansas

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Kansas

Kentucky

Status: Franchise Filing State
Additional information about franchising in Kentucky

Louisiana

Status: Non-Registration State if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
Additional information about franchising in Louisiana

Maine

Status: Non-Registration State if you have federally registered trademark, otherwise Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $25
Additional information about franchising in Maine

Maryland

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Maryland

Massachusetts

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Massachusetts

Michigan

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in Michigan

Minnesota

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $400
Additional information about franchising in Minnesota

Mississippi

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Mississippi

Missouri

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Missouri

Montana

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Montana

Nebraska

Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
State Registration Fee: $100
Additional information about franchising in Nebraska

Nevada

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Nevada

New Hampshire

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Hampshire

New Jersey

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Jersey

New Mexico

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in New Mexico

New York

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $750
Additional information about franchising in New York

North Carolina

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

North Dakota

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in North Dakota

Ohio

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Ohio

Oklahoma

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Oklahoma

Oregon

Status: Franchise Regulation State (no filing)
Additional information about franchising in Oregon

Pennsylvania

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $600
Additional information about franchising in Rhode Island

South Carolina

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

South Dakota

Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Filing Fee: $250
Additional information about franchising in South Dakota

Tennessee

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Tennessee

Texas

Status: Franchise Filing State (one-time filing)
State Registration Fee: $25
Additional information about franchising in Texas

Utah

Status: Franchise Filing State (annual filing)
State Registration Fee: $100.00
Additional information about franchising in Utah

Vermont

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Vermont

Virginia

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $500
Additional information about franchising in Virginia

Washington

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $600
Additional information about franchising in Washington

West Virginia

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in West Virginia

Wisconsin

Status: Franchise Registration State
State Registration Fee: $400
Additional information about franchising in Wisconsin

Wyoming

Status: Non-Registration State
Additional information about franchising in Wyoming