Franchising Laws in Ohio
Ohio operates as a “non-registration” state for franchising, meaning franchisors are not required to register their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with any state agency before they can offer or sell franchises. And the entire pre-sale disclosure process is governed by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Franchise Rule. But you still need to hire Ohio Franchise Attorneys.
With those things in mind, Ohio does have a Business Opportunity Purchaser’s Protection Act that can apply to franchises.
That said, most franchisors are typically exempt from this law’s filing requirements if they meet certain criteria, such as having a federally registered trademark and a significant net worth. For those that do not qualify for an exemption, they must file a one-time notice and a fee with the Ohio Attorney General.
For the ongoing franchise relationship, Ohio does not have a general franchise relationship law that governs aspects like termination, renewal, or transfer rights for most business formats. These matters are primarily dictated by the terms negotiated within the franchise agreement itself. Should a dispute arise, the parties must rely on the contract and general principles of business and contract law.
However, Ohio does provide specific statutory protections for certain industries, such as alcoholic beverage distributors and motor vehicle dealers.
Here is a list of franchise lawyers available in Ohio
Judith Marsh
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
52 East Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio
Daniel L. Silfani
222 South Main Street
Suite 400
Akron, Ohio
Paul H. Spitz
810 Sycamore St
4th Floor Suite 417
Cincinnati, Ohio
This Directory is owned and operated by Franchise Selection Specialists Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44143
Joel Libava, President.
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