Advisors / Lawyers

Looking for help with the legal side of buying or running a franchise? Here are specialists to help you with franchise advice, franchise agreements, franchise contracts, franchise documentation, legal advice, business law, franchise structure, master franchise advice, licensing advice, intellectual property advice, franchise disclosure documents, dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, franchise law, franchise litigation, franchise start-ups.

There are 27 franchise advisors available in this section

Our Premium Selection

ASCO: Agmen-Smith Lawyers

New franchise system set-up, franchise agreements, disclosure documents, brand name, trademarks, IP, master licensing, import/export, leasing sale and purchase structure compliance, disputes.
More info on ASCO: Agmen-Smith Lawyers

Botting Legal

Franchise and commercial law specialists. We provide practical legal advice in plain English for both franchisees and franchisors at very competitive rates.
More info on Botting Legal

Gaze Burt

Lawyers providing full legal services for franchisors and franchisees including advice and documents relating to franchise development, franchise evaluation, risk management, transactional management and dispute resolution.
More info on Gaze Burt

Stewart Germann Law Office

Lawyers and Notary Public. Award-winning specialist franchise law firm with over 30 years’ franchising and licensing experience. Stewart Germann Law Office is the longest established franchise law firm in New Zealand. SGL provides legal advice to franchisors on structure and initial documentation and to franchisees on franchise agreements.
More info on Stewart Germann Law Office

Standard Listings

Duncan Cotterill Lawyers

We act for many franchise systems, and for franchisees, from start-up, import, export or purchase, document preparation, compliance and purchase advice.
More info on Duncan Cotterill Lawyers

gca lawyers

Advice to franchisors and franchisees on all legal aspects of franchising and business law.
More info on gca lawyers

Gibson Sheat Lawyers

We provide comprehensive advice on the legal aspects of franchising to both franchisors and franchisees. For details see our website www.gibsonsheat.com
More info on Gibson Sheat Lawyers

Harmans Lawyers

Comprehensive legal service for both franchisors and franchisees including franchise and disclosure documentation, employment, leases, terms of trade, dispute resolution and business structures.
More info on Harmans Lawyers

Harris Tate

All aspects of franchising and business advice including disputes resolution. Advisors to franchisees and franchisors locally and nationally.
More info on Harris Tate

MacDonald Pilcher Partnership

Commercial law firm specialising in franchising.
More info on MacDonald Pilcher Partnership

Free Listings

A J Park

Specialist trademark and branding expertise and commercial legal advice.
More info on A J Park

Anthony Harper Solicitors

Advice to franchisors and franchisees on all legal aspects of franchising and business law.
More info on Anthony Harper Solicitors

Baldwins

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys. Intellectual property lawyers. Licensing and franchising searches, registration of IP rights.
More info on Baldwins

Bannister & von Dadelszen

Advice to franchisors including preparation of franchise agreements and associated documents.
More info on Bannister & von Dadelszen

Botherway Legal

Law firm offering a full range of services. Specialists in working with franchisors and franchisees.
More info on Botherway Legal

Davenports Harbour Lawyers

Specialists in advising franchisors on appropriate franchise structures, ongoing operational systems and IP.
More info on Davenports Harbour Lawyers

Deirdre Watson - Barrister

Franchise and contract disputes, litigation, mediation and arbitration. Over twenty years’ legal experience. Solicitor required.
More info on Deirdre Watson - Barrister

Fortune Manning Lawyers

Fixed price legal services packages tailored specifically for franchisees and franchisors.
More info on Fortune Manning Lawyers

Fraser Powrie

Preparation and analysis of franchise agreements for both franchisors and franchisees.
More info on Fraser Powrie

Govett Quilliam

Fun lawyers for franchis/ees/ors with a taste for e-commerce, customer related marketing and interneting.
More info on Govett Quilliam

Hesketh Henry

Advising franchising clients about franchising, IP, e-commerce, taxation and commercial issues.
More info on Hesketh Henry

Hunter & Co

Advice to franchisees and franchisors on franchising and intellectual property law.
More info on Hunter & Co

Izard Weston

Expert franchise and business advice and services for both franchisors and franchisees.
More info on Izard Weston

James & Wells Intellectual Property

Legal advice on branding. New Zealand IP law firm of the year at Law Awards 2009.
More info on James & Wells Intellectual Property

Macky Roberton

Franchising and commercial legal advice for franchisors and franchisees including purchase, structuring and establishment.
More info on Macky Roberton

Simpson Grierson

Specialists in franchise systems including structuring, documentation, human resources, property, taxation and transactions.
More info on Simpson Grierson

Wisewould Mahony

Legal & consulting services advising franchisors, preparation of franchise documents for Australian Code of Compliance.
More info on Wisewould Mahony

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The first thing you need to do is decide what sort of business you are looking for. You need to work out what would best suit you and what you would want from it.

Essential reading
It’s all about you
What's the best franchise for you?

The cost of buying into a franchise ranges from under $5000 to over $1 million. What matters is not how much you have to spend, but how much you – and your new business – can afford. That may mean arranging finance.

Essential reading
What to ask about funding
Facts about franchise funding

Find out how franchising really works – particularly the unique relationship that exists between franchisees and franchisors. You will be appointed as a franchisee because you have the potential to succeed in a particular franchise, you'll be given a proven product or service and then trained and supported as you grow – but you will succeed or fail on your own merits.

Essential reading
All about franchising
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The greatest single source of information on any franchise system is going to be the franchisors themselves, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. Prepare for every meeting by making a list of the questions you want to ask, and write down the answers. Be prepared to say if you don’t understand anything - the better informed you are, the more likely it is you will make the right decision.

Essential reading
200 questions to ask the franchisor

You need to go into any franchise with a good understanding of what is involved, so make sure you find out everything you can about the business in advance. The franchisor will provide a lot of information and the amount of detail will increase as you get more serious, but you should also read everything you can about the company in magazines, trade journals and on the internet.

Essential reading
How to research your franchise
What's in the disclosure document?

There is probably a franchise available in almost any industry that interests you (see our Directory). This is good, because you will have a good choice of opportunities. But it's important to research not just the franchise but also your chosen industry to make sure the business has a real future in New Zealand.

Essential reading
Shopper's guide to franchises
Lost in translation

The best way to get information about the performance of the franchise is to talk to franchisees who are already operating the business. You will get a realistic assessment of the return to expect; the hours required; the assistance provided by the franchisor and the everyday experiences of a franchisee.

Essential reading
Shopper's guide to franchises
50 questions to ask franchisees

Franchisors won’t usually make financial projections for any new business but should be able to provide you with figures based either upon the performance of an existing franchise or company-owned outlet. Some offer work or income guarantees that may be attractive to the newcomer. Get an accountant with experience of franchising to assess all figures.

Essential reading
Why use an accountant?
Will it make money?

A franchise is like a marriage – but with more paperwork! Most franchise agreements are lengthy documents (40-60 pages), and are couched in legal language. That’s why you must get a franchise-experienced lawyer to check over the franchise agreement. If you don’t understand what you are getting into then you could be in for some nasty surprises further down the track.

Essential reading
Why use a lawyer?
What's in the franchise agreement?

Before you sign the agreement and write the cheque, make absolutely certain you know what the up-front franchise fee covers. If you change your mind, pulling out may be expensive. You must also have a clear understanding in writing of any ongoing fees which are payable. It is important that you are aware of what fees are payable, how they are calculated and what they are for.

Essential reading
What do you get for your franchise fees?

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