Registration States

Many states have implemented their own individual franchise rules and disclosure requirements. A minority of states, 13, has franchise filing requirements. 15 states have led franchising regulation by adopting more stringent standards of the UFOC format rather than the federal Franchise Rule.

A company is only authorized to sell franchises in the following states when it successfully registers there.

1. CA: Department of Corporations  (213) 576-7500
2. HI: Consumer Affairs, Securities Compliance  (808) 586-2722
3. IL: Attorney General's Office, Franchise Division  (217) 782-1090
4. IN: Securities Commissioner, Securities Division  (317) 232-6681
5. MD: Maryland Attorney General’s Office, Securities Division (410) 576-6360
6. MN: Minnesota Dept of Commerce  (612) 296-4026
7. NY: Attorney General’s Office (212) 416-8200
8. ND: Office of the Securities Commissioner (701) 328-2910
9. RI: Division of Securities (401) 222-3048
10. SD: Division of Securities (605) 773-4823
11. VA: Division of Securities & Retail Franchising (804) 371-9051
12. WA: Dept of Financial Institutions, Securities Division (360) 902-8760
13. WI: Wisconsin Securities Commission (608) 261-9555

Since franchisors who want to sell in these 13 states must use the tougher UFOC, franchisors want to minimize their disclosure efforts by issuing their prepared UFOC in 35 states.  However, a franchisor in these states is only required to provide a disclosure document compliant with the federal Franchise Rule. No record of these documents need be registered with the State.

Additional resources:

• FTC's list of states requiring the filing of disclosure documents