Buying a franchise, opening a second location, or building a franchise system in New York? New York is one of 14 "registration" states for franchise sales and applies the New York Franchise Sales Act on top of the FTC Franchise Rule. The firms below are the recognized franchise counsel in the city — for FDD preparation, registration, franchisee acquisitions, terminations, and franchise litigation.
Updated May 5, 2026
Three groups call New York franchise counsel: prospective franchisees evaluating an FDD before signing; existing franchisees facing termination, non-renewal, encroachment, or a dispute with the franchisor; and franchisors building or expanding a system that needs to be registered for sale in New York. The right firm is the one whose typical client matches you — most franchise firms lean either franchisor or franchisee, and a few do both.
New York's franchise practice is concentrated in a handful of recognized boutiques. Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins is widely regarded as the dean of New York franchise law and represents many of the largest franchisor brands. Einbinder, Dunn, Dimitri & Bayer has a long-established practice on both sides. Zarco Einhorn Salkowski is highly regarded for franchisee-side work. Woods Lonergan handles franchise transactions for the New York metro market.
The work splits cleanly: FDD drafting and annual updates, state registration filings (NY requires registration before any offer or sale of a franchise to a NY resident or for a NY-located business), franchise agreement negotiation, area development and master franchise structures, franchise unit purchases and sales, system terminations and renewals, and franchise litigation including encroachment, vicarious liability, and termination disputes. New York courts and the New York Attorney General's franchise unit are active in this space.
Critical decisions for a prospective franchisee: read the FDD's Item 19 financial performance representations carefully; understand the territory rights or lack thereof; have counsel review the personal guaranty and post-termination non-compete before signing; and confirm the franchisor is properly registered in New York before paying any franchise fee. Critical decisions for a franchisor: registration timing, FDD substantive accuracy, audited financial statement requirements, and salesperson registration.
David J. Kaufmann is one of America's foremost franchise lawyers. Client list includes YUM! Brands, Marriott International, and Wendy's International. The reference name in New York franchisor representation. Author of the principal NY franchise law treatise.
30+ years representing both franchisors and franchisees. FDD preparation and registration, franchise agreement negotiation, franchisee terminations and renewals, encroachment and territory disputes. Frequent counsel to multi-unit franchisees and emerging franchisors.
National franchise boutique with NY-active practice. Particularly recognized for franchisee-side representation including class actions, encroachment claims, fraud claims, and terminations. Frequently retained by multi-unit operators and franchisee associations.
New York City franchise practice handling FDD review, franchise purchase due diligence, multi-unit acquisitions, and franchise disputes. Active in the metro market for both franchisor and franchisee engagements.
FDD review for a prospective franchisee (single unit). $2,500-$6,000 flat fee at most NY franchise boutiques. Includes a marked-up FDD, a memo on material risks, and a 60-90 minute walk-through call. Worth every dollar — most franchise problems trace back to FDD terms the buyer never understood.
FDD preparation and registration for a new franchisor. $25,000-$60,000 for the initial FDD, audited financials coordination, NY registration application, and salesperson registration. Annual updates run $8,000-$20,000 per state where registration is required.
Franchise agreement negotiation (franchisee-side). $3,500-$10,000. The franchisor typically resists material changes to its standard form, but personal guaranty terms, territory definitions, transfer rights, and post-term restrictions are often negotiable for stronger candidates.
Franchise litigation (encroachment, termination, fraud). $75,000-$500,000+. Many NY franchise disputes settle in pre-litigation mediation or AAA arbitration under the franchise agreement's dispute clause.
Multi-unit franchisee acquisition or sale. $15,000-$75,000 depending on deal size and structure. Often paired with M&A and tax counsel for the broader transaction.
FDD review for a prospective franchisee: 1-2 weeks from engagement to marked-up FDD and risk memo.
New franchise system FDD + NY registration: 8-14 weeks from kickoff to NY registration effectiveness, including the 4-6 week registration review by the NY Attorney General's office.
FDD annual update + NY renewal: 3-5 weeks. Plan for an annual update each year within 120 days of the franchisor's fiscal year end.
Franchise unit acquisition (existing franchisee selling): 30-60 days from LOI to closing, including franchisor consent processing.
Franchise litigation: depends on forum. AAA franchise arbitrations typically resolve in 9-15 months. Federal court franchise cases run 18-36 months to summary judgment or trial.
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