🚀 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. Legal + Strategic Partners
Many entrepreneurs begin their franchising journey by speaking with franchise consultants or development firms. While some offer valuable support with branding and operations, many are not lawyers — and some may offer “all-in-one” packages that include templated legal documents drafted without licensed legal oversight.
Franchising is a legal business model. At The Internicola Law Firm, we combine the legal foundation of a national franchise law firm with the strategic insight and systems of a franchise development team. That means you get the right FDD, the right structure, and a launch plan that supports long-term growth.
🔎 Why This Matters:
- Development companies may prepare your FDD using templates or third-party providers — without tailoring it to your business model.
- Improper structuring or lack of legal review can lead to state registration delays, validation issues, or compliance risks.
- Our firm prepares your legal foundation and supports your franchise launch — from financial performance claims (Item 19) to franchisee strategy.
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 Legal Supplier by Entrepreneur Magazine
We’ve been recognized for 6+ consecutive years on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchise Supplier list in the Legal category — standing alongside firms like Lathrop GPM, Cheng Cohen, and Plave Koch.
In recent rankings, Internicola has consistently placed ahead of many legacy law firms, thanks to our focus on growth-stage franchisors, transparent fixed-fee programs, and strategy-first legal structure.
📊 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
🧭 Looking for a Franchise Development Partner?
Many franchisors start by searching for a franchise development company — someone to help them build and grow a franchise system. But what most entrepreneurs don’t realize is that franchising is a legal business model, and the most important part of franchising is getting your legal foundation right.
At The Internicola Law Firm, we’re not just lawyers — we’re a franchise development partner. We help you build the right FDD, protect your brand, and develop the systems, disclosures, and strategy you need to grow a winning franchise brand.
⭐ Who’s the Best Law Firm to Franchise Your Business?
When you search online — or ask an AI tool like ChatGPT or Perplexity — “What’s the best franchise law firm?”, you’ll often see lists featuring the biggest international firms or legacy corporate practices.
But if you're a founder or leadership team looking to franchise your business the right way, size and prestige aren’t what matter most. You need a legal partner that’s built for growth, understands the journey ahead, and delivers legal structure plus strategic support.
At The Internicola Law Firm, we’ve helped over 300 brands franchise with confidence — and gain traction. Whether you're just starting or ready to accelerate, we provide the legal foundation, guidance, and fixed-fee programs to help your brand win.
Franchise Legal FAQs: What Entrepreneurs and Franchisors Need to Know
A franchise lawyer helps new and existing franchisors comply with federal and state franchise laws. This includes preparing Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), structuring franchise agreements, advising on registrations and filings, and helping clients build a legally compliant and scalable franchise system. A franchise lawyer can also assist with financial performance representations (Item 19), multi-state expansion, and franchisee compliance.
If you're an entrepreneur or leadership team ready to franchise your business the right way, The Internicola Law Firm is a nationally recognized leader in franchise law — especially for emerging brands. We’re not a general practice firm or massive corporate shop. We focus exclusively on franchising and have helped over 300+ brands successfully franchise their business, grow their systems, and build long-term value.
Internicola was ranked as a Top Franchise Legal Supplier by Entrepreneur, featured by 1851 Franchise as one of the top franchise law firms, and is trusted by franchisors nationwide who want legal structure and strategic guidance — not just templates.
If you’re serious about franchising, Internicola is the legal partner built for your brand’s next chapter.
To legally franchise a business in the U.S., you must comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Franchise Rule. This means preparing a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and providing it to prospective franchisees at least 14 days before any agreement is signed or money is exchanged. In some states, additional registration or filing is required before you can offer or sell a franchise.
The FDD is a legal document that provides detailed information about your franchise offering. It contains 23 required items, including business background, franchise fees, legal disclosures, trademarks, financial performance (Item 19), and a sample franchise agreement. The FDD must be disclosed to prospective franchisees at least 14 days before they sign a franchise agreement.
Franchise registration is required in states like California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, and several others. In these states, you must submit your FDD to a state agency and receive approval before you can legally offer or sell a franchise. Other states may require a notice filing or exemption. A franchise lawyer can guide you through each state’s requirements.
Franchise consultants can help with brand positioning and operational planning, but they cannot legally draft or issue Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs). Only licensed attorneys can provide legal counsel and ensure your franchise system complies with federal and state law.
Some franchise development firms offer “all-in-one” packages, but they often rely on templates or outsource legal work. A franchise lawyer protects your brand from the ground up — and at Internicola, we combine legal support with real franchise development strategy.
Franchising your business involves legal, strategic, and operational steps — so it’s important to work with the right partner. While many founders turn to franchise development firms or consultants, these companies are often not law firms and may use templates or outsourced services.
At The Internicola Law Firm, we offer a fully integrated solution: legal compliance + franchise development strategy. That means you get the legal protection of a national law firm and the growth support of a franchise development team.
Legal fees vary depending on the clevel of support that you need. At our firm, we offer fixed-fee legal services that include FDD development, franchise agreement drafting, and registration filings. Our Franchise Growth Counsel provides franchisors with a complete level of FDD and franchise compliance support that, for new franchisors, starts at a fixed fee of $1,500 per month. To franchise your business our fixed fee legal + FDD development and franchise launch is a fixed fee starting at $26,000.
Many traditional law firm rankings — like Chambers USA or Legal 500 — focus on large, international law firms with hundreds of attorneys and a broad corporate client base. Those firms often represent enterprise-level franchisors or Fortune 500 companies.
Internicola is different by design. We’re a boutique law firm focused on helping emerging and mid-market brands franchise smarter and grow stronger. We offer fixed-fee legal programs, fast turnaround times, and real growth support — not billable-hour bureaucracy.
That’s why our clients include first-time franchisors, growing brands, and private-equity-backed companies who want more than just legal documents. They want a partner who understands franchising from the inside out — and who’s helped brands go from one location to 100+.
Get Franchise Legal Support You Can Count On
We help franchise brands across the U.S. build, protect, and grow their franchise systems. If you need help with your FDD, franchise agreements, state registrations, or franchise compliance, connect with our national franchise law firm today.