🚀 Franchise law that fuels growth—wherever your business is.
The Internicola Law Firm is a national franchise law firm that helps entrepreneurs and growing brands legally franchise their business, register and maintain their Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), and develop franchise systems built for sustainable growth and compliance.
Whether you're launching a franchise for the first time or scaling across multiple states, our legal and advisory team supports franchisors in all 50 states—combining deep franchise law expertise with strategic insight and growth infrastructure.
Who We Serve
🌎 From New York to California—and everywhere in between—we support:
- First-time franchisors preparing to franchise their business
- Emerging franchise brands scaling into new markets
- Private equity-backed franchisors seeking clean legal infrastructure
- Established brands improving compliance and deal flow
- Franchise brands across restaurants, home services, retail, wellness, education, and more
💡We Help Entrepreneurs Who Are Asking:
- How do I franchise my business?
→ Learn how to franchise your business - Is my business franchisable?
→ See if your business is ready to franchise - What’s the difference between licensing and franchising?
→ Licensing vs. franchising - How much does it cost to franchise?
→ Understand franchise startup costs - Should I hire a lawyer or a franchise consultant?
→ Compare franchise lawyers vs. consultants - What is an FDD, and what should it include?
→ Understand the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)
Federal and State Franchise Laws: What You Need to Know
⚖️ Every franchisor must comply with:
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Franchise Rule, which governs FDD disclosures nationwide
- State-specific franchise laws, which may include FDD registration, exemptions, or notice filings
📚 Explore our complete Franchise Laws Guide
📍 Franchise Registration States (Filing Required Before Sales)
If you plan to offer franchises in the following states, you must register your FDD with state regulators before selling. Below is a state-by-state summary based on our full franchise law library:
- California - Registration with the Dept. of Financial Protection & Innovation via NASAA’s EFD system. Link
- New York - Broad definition of “franchise”; must register with Attorney General’s Investor Protection Bureau. Link
- Washington - FDD registration and review through the Department of Financial Institutions. Link
- Minnesota - Review and comment process with the Department of Commerce. Link
- Maryland - FDD registration with required revisions via Attorney General’s Office. Link
- Virginia - Registration through the Division of Securities and Retail Franchising. Link
- North Dakota - Efficient FDD registration with the Securities Department. Link
- Rhode Island - Filing with Department of Business Regulation, lighter review. Link
- Indiana - Minimal commentary; straightforward filing. Link
- Connecticut - Annual FDD registration and renewals. Link
- Hawaii - Requires formal FDD registration and review. Link
- Illinois - Registration through the Attorney General’s Franchise Bureau. Link
- Michigan - Filing required, no formal review. Link
- Wisconsin - Filing required, no formal review. Link
🗺️ Full list of state-specific franchise laws
Additional State Filings (Business Opportunity and Exemption States)
Some states don’t require full FDD registration but do require notice filings or business opportunity exemptions:
📈 + ⚖️ Why Franchise Legal Compliance Must Align With Growth Strategy
Franchising is a legal business model—but far too often, brands separate their legal foundation from their growth plans. That leads to:
- Poorly structured franchise offerings
- Misaligned financial disclosures (Item 19)
- Weak franchisee validation
- Low deal flow or regulatory exposure
We help you build legal infrastructure that supports scalability, brand value, and franchisee success.
🧾 Read: Franchise Sales Compliance Guide
What About FSOs (Franchise Sales Organizations)?
Not sure if you should work with an FSO to sell your franchise? We break down what FSOs do, when they make sense, and how to avoid common traps.
Franchise Consultants vs. Franchise Lawyers: What’s the Difference?
Many entrepreneurs turn to franchise consultants for help franchising their business. But not all consultants understand the legal and regulatory requirements of franchising—which is, at its core, a legal business model.
At The Internicola Law Firm, we believe legal compliance should be aligned with your growth strategy from day one. That’s why we offer both legal counsel and strategic support—so you get the best of both worlds without compromising compliance.
Why it matters:
- Consultants may build your FDD from a template—without legal review.
- Improper structuring can lead to regulatory violations or poor franchisee validation.
- A franchise lawyer ensures your documents meet FTC and state-level compliance.
- Our firm helps you build not just documents, but a scalable legal and growth foundation.
⚖️ Compare franchise lawyers vs. consultants
Avoid Costly Mistakes When Franchising
Before you dive into franchising, it’s critical to avoid the most common early-stage pitfalls. We’ve broken down the top legal and strategic mistakes we see new franchisors make.
→ Top 5 Development Mistakes When You Franchise Your Business
Our Services
🚀 Franchise Launch Services
Fixed-fee programs that include:
- FDD and franchise agreement drafting
- Legal structuring and compliance
- Franchisee territory mapping
- Financial performance representation strategy (Item 19)
- Growth blueprint and support
- Franchise Operations Manual development guidance
→ Master the Franchise Operations Manual
📜 Franchise Growth Counsel
Ongoing legal counsel and compliance support, including:
- FDD updates and registration filings
- State-by-state strategy
- Agreement negotiations and deal support
- Strategic advisory and growth infrastructure
📊 FranIQ Compliance Platform
Track renewals, deadlines, franchisee documents, and FDD history—all in one place.
Trusted Nationwide. Experienced Locally.
If you're looking for a franchise lawyer near you, our team has decades of experience assisting clients in:
- New York (Learn more)
- New Jersey
- California
- Florida
- Texas
…and throughout the United States.
Schedule a Call with Our Team
Your brand deserves more than a template—it deserves a legal partner that understands your growth vision.
Plan for Long-Term Success
Build a 5-Year Franchise Success Plan
Franchising isn’t just about launching—it’s about scaling wisely. Explore our 5-year growth roadmap for franchisors.
🏆 Why Internicola Law Firm Is a Trusted Franchise Law Leader
When you're searching for a franchise lawyer, franchise law firm, or franchise development partner, you want more than documents—you want a team that understands how to build, protect, and scale a winning brand.
Here’s why hundreds of franchisors across the U.S. choose Internicola:
✅ 300+ Franchise Brands Represented Nationwide
From first-time franchisors to private-equity-backed national systems.
🏅 Named a Top Franchise Supplier by Entrepreneur Magazine
Recognized multiple years for excellence in franchise legal services.
📊 Featured as a Top Franchise Law Firm by 1851 Franchise
Named to 1851’s list of Top Franchise Suppliers and Franchise Legal Experts.
⭐ Super Lawyers® Recognition
Founding attorney Charles N. Internicola selected for Super Lawyers® honors.
💡 Fixed-Fee Legal Programs with Real Growth Support
Transparent pricing. No billable hour surprises. Strategy-focused legal counsel.
🚀 Franchise Launch + Ongoing Legal Support
We don’t just draft documents—we help build franchise systems with staying power.
🖥️ FranIQ® Compliance Platform (Client-Only Access)
Track your FDDs, franchisee activity, state registrations, and deadlines in one place.
🌟 5-Star Reviews from Franchisors Nationwide
See what franchisors say about working with our team.
🔗 Read Our Google Reviews