Your questions about franchise disputes, answered.

A franchise dispute is a disagreement between a franchisee and a franchisor about their rights and obligations, usually under the franchise agreement. Common issues are support, fees, territory, misleading information before signing, termination and what happens when the franchise ends.

Most of the cost in a franchise dispute comes from solicitors' time. We do the evidence gathering and fact-finding first, then a £250 case review tells you honestly whether you have a case before you spend more. Many disputes can be settled at that stage. If yours does go legal, your solicitor starts with a complete evidence pack instead of building one from scratch, which can save thousands of pounds in legal fees.

No. We gather the evidence, get the correct facts, give you an honest view of whether you have a case, and then work with you to present it to your franchisor. If it goes legal, we work alongside your solicitor, giving expert third-party advice and opinion.

Keep paying and trading unless you have taken advice, find your franchise agreement, and start keeping a written record. Then call or email us: initial discussions are free and in confidence.

Possibly. It depends on exactly what you were told or shown before you signed, who said it, and what the franchise agreement says. We gather the prospectus, projections, emails and notes of meetings, set them against your real figures, and give you an honest view of whether you have a case.

Only on the grounds and by the process the agreement allows, which usually means a breach notice and a chance to put things right first. If you have received a warning or breach notice, note any deadline and call or email us straight away.

Stopping payment without advice can put you in breach of the agreement and give the franchisor grounds to terminate. Talk to us first. There are usually better ways to raise a fee dispute that protect your position.

In most cases, yes, and we aim for exactly that. Resolving a dispute while the business keeps running is usually far better for you than a long fight that wears it down.

Not always. Many franchise disputes can be resolved through evidence, facts and negotiation. If yours does need a solicitor, we will tell you plainly, help you find a franchise specialist, and hand over your evidence pack.

Everything that matters in your dispute, gathered and put in order: the agreement, what you were promised, correspondence, figures and a dated timeline, with a summary of the key facts. It is what we use to present your case to the franchisor, and it saves a solicitor hours of work if the matter goes legal.

It depends on the dispute and on how quickly your franchisor responds. After the case review, we give you our view on the next steps and a written quote, and keep you updated from there.

Initial discussions are free. Once the information is gathered, a case review costs £250. We then give you our judgment and a written quote for any further work, and you decide whether to go ahead. Payments can be staged and made partly on success.

There is no specific franchise law in the UK yet. Your rights come mainly from the franchise agreement itself and general contract law, which is why the exact wording of your agreement matters so much. We have lobbied the Government hard for franchise legislation of the kind many European countries already have. As of June 2026, MPs have told us this is now being investigated and worked on.

No. We are not a firm of solicitors and are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We provide practical pre-legal help, negotiation and representation where permitted. Where you need a solicitor, we will help you find one and work alongside them.

Yes. There is no charge and no obligation. If you want us to act for you, we agree the terms with you in writing first.

It depends on the agreement and the circumstances. Options can include a negotiated exit, a sale or transfer, or, in some cases, ending the agreement because of the franchisor's own breach. Each carries risks, so get advice before acting.

Do not ignore it, and note any deadline. Contact us straight away. If you need a solicitor, we will tell you and help you find one quickly.

No. Your enquiry is confidential. Nothing is sent to your franchisor or anyone else unless you agree.