A franchising contract or franchising agreement is a contract under which the franchisor, being the owner of a business or brand, grants the franchisee the rights to operate a business, (or sell, or distribute goods or services) identified or associated with the franchisor’s trademark.
Becoming a franchisee means, an individual or business buys into the original company by purchasing the right to sell the franchisor’s goods or services under the existing business model and trademark name.
For example, an Italian shirt company, named SHIRTS owns 20 shops in the north part of Italy. They would like to expand their business in Italy and in other European countries. So, they create a business franchising model to be able to partner with other businesses to expand their number of shops named SHIRTS. In this type of contractual business model or relationship, SHIRTS, known as the franchisor, allows an independent business owner, called the franchisee, to use the branding, business model, and other intellectual property of SHIRTS, to sell such clothing in other shops in different locations and different countries, also called SHIRTS.
The franchising industry is very versatile offering different types of franchise arrangements, options, and investment ranges. The typical duration of a franchise agreement is usually 10 years, and such contract will spell out the conditions under which the franchise can be sold to someone else, which can be stringent to ensure that any future franchisee is qualified enough to run the business.
Generally, the franchisee makes a one-time initial fee payment to the franchisor upon signing of the contract, as an entry fee. Besides, the franchisee might pay royalties on sales, marketing and advertising assistance fees, or equipment and supplies for the shops. The franchise agreement will also stipulate that the franchisee may only operate the franchise in an assigned territory or country and may also limit the right of the franchisee to sell online.
It’s important to note that the franchise agreement should outline the rights and obligations of both the franchisor and the franchisee. The main purpose of this contract is to protect the intellectual property and products or services of the franchisor. It will also hold certain obligation so that each franchisee operates the franchise consistently. It’s good to know that a franchisor is responsible for the overall brand reputation management, whereas the franchisees are responsible for marketing their businesses in their assigned market areas. However, the franchisees are partners and they also play an important role in protecting and fostering the brand’s image.
If you are thinking to expand your business by creating a franchising model, or you are interested in starting a new business as a franchisee, our lawyers will be able to guide you legally and commercially on anything related to franchising. Contact Dr Adrian Sciberras on [email protected].
This article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.
Article written by Ms Charlene Sciberras, B.A. (Hons), guest writer, is a marketing and business administration specialist with a special focus on corporate, accounting, and legal matters.
Sciberras Advocates founded by Dr Adrian Sciberras, is a law firm based in Malta. The firm prides itself to be multi-disciplinary, innovative and flexible in order to meet the changing times and any challenges in the local and international legal scenario. No matter what private or corporate complex demands are called for, Sciberras Advocates offers practical and cost-effective legal solutions to achieve your desired results. You may reach Sciberras Advocates by phone on +35627795222 or via email on [email protected].
