TORONTO FRANCHISE LAWYER

1. For the Franchisee

Whether you are acquiring your first business or you are a veteran entrepreneur, purchasing a franchise requires a substantial commitment of your time and financial resources both at the outset and for many years to come. As a prospective franchisee your obligations will far exceed those of a typical (non-franchise) business owner. You must weigh the benefits of the franchise system and obtain a clear understanding of your rights and obligations as a franchisee. To start, you must obtain a clear understanding and assessment of the Franchise Agreement and the Franchise Disclosure Document that must be provided to you before your investment in any franchise system, pursuant to the Arthur Wishart Franchise Act (Ontario).

Before investing your life's savings and obligating yourself to a franchise agreement that was designed to serve the interests of the franchisor and not you, it is critical that you consult with an experienced business lawyer who can help you level the playing field by providing you with (a) a detailed review and assessment of the franchise disclosure documents and your obligations under the franchise agreement, (b) specific recommendations (to be added to your franchise agreement) to improve your rights as a franchisee, and (c) negotiations with your franchisor to add rights to your franchise agreement to better protect your rights and investment.

2. For the Franchisor

Both start-up franchisors and franchisors of an established system require legal counsel that understands the "business of franchising." Your disclosure documents and franchise agreements must serve as integrated components to your overall franchise system and must be designed, monitored and updated to ensure that you are afforded the necessary control and flexibility to maintain your system's standards, reduce litigation exposure and implement measures for controlled growth.

Our franchise, licensing and distribution services include:

• working with start-up franchisors to structure franchise programs and to develop documents that meet clients' unique and specific needs

• assisting established franchisors to grow their brands across Canada and internationally

• preparing disclosure documents and filing provincially mandated legal materials

• advising companies on structuring alternative methods of distribution and licensing to avoid the need of franchise law regulation

• helping clients develop and manage relationships with franchisees, licensees, vendors, suppliers and competitors

• working with clients to anticipate, prevent and manage disputes

To retain the legal services of Toronto franchise lawyer Christopher Neufeld, contact Neufeld Legal Professional Corporation at 416-887-9702 or Chris@LawyerTorontoBusiness.com.