District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)Franchise Laws
The District of Columbia is categorized as a non-registration state for general franchise sales. But you still should hire a Washington D.C. Franchise Attorney.
As to the non-registration aspect of the law, this means that a franchisor is not required to register its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) or any other franchise offering materials with a D.C. regulatory body before selling a franchise to a resident.
That said, the primary legal requirement for franchise disclosure in D.C. remains compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Franchise Rule.
The FTC Rule mandates that a franchisor provide the prospective franchisee with a valid, current FDD at least 14 calendar days before they sign a binding agreement or pay any fees.
This federal standard is the key to offering or selling a franchise in the District of Columbia. There are also no separate D.C. business opportunity laws that would capture a qualifying franchise and impose a different filing or registration requirement.
While D.C. does not have a comprehensive, standalone franchise relationship law like some other states, limited aspects of the franchisee-franchisor relationship are indirectly regulated by the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act (DCCPPA). This law broadly includes franchises within its definition of “goods and services.”
The DCCPPA prohibits deceptive and unconscionable trade practices in the sale of franchises. A franchisee who suffers damages because of a violation may use the DCCPPA to seek remedies like actual damages, treble damages, and attorneys’ fees.
However, this consumer protection statute does not specifically govern common franchise relationship issues like requiring good cause for termination or mandating a right to cure a default, which are features of specific relationship laws in other jurisdictions.
Here is a list of franchise lawyers you can hire in the District of Columbia
Keri A. McWilliams
Nixon Peabody LLP
799 9th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20001
Warren L. Lewis
Akerman LLP
750 9th St NW # 1100, Washington, D.C. 20001
Scott McIntosh
Quarles & Brady LLP
1700 New York Ave NW # 1200, Washington, D.C. 20006
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