Franchise disputes
Resolve your franchise dispute, save money and keep trading.
We gather the evidence, get the facts right and tell you honestly whether you have a case. Then we work with you to put it to your franchisor, all before you need a solicitor.
Who you will be dealing with30 years leading and building franchise businesses. We are on your side to support you, independent of any fee-paying franchise association or membership.
About usMore than mediation. We build your case.
Franchise disputes turn on facts. We get them right first, so you only spend on solicitors if you really need to.
Gather the evidence
Your agreement, what you were promised, correspondence, figures and dates, collected and put in order.
Get the facts right
We establish the correct and vital facts, not assumptions, and what they actually prove.
An honest view of your case
We work on the reality: whether you have a case or not, and whether it is worth pursuing.
Present it to your franchisor
We work with you to put your case to the franchisor, clearly and on the facts, to settle it and keep you trading.
If it goes legal
You already have an evidence pack, which can save thousands of pounds in legal fees. We work alongside your solicitor, giving expert third-party advice and opinion.
Problems with your franchise?
Franchise problems rarely start as legal disputes. They start with support that does not arrive, figures that do not add up or a letter that changes everything. We help franchisees with:
Common franchise problems and how we help- A franchisor not providing the support, training or marketing promised
- Trading figures far below what you were shown before you signed
- Disputes over management service fees, royalties or the marketing levy
- Another franchisee or the franchisor trading in your territory
- Warning letters, breach notices or threats of termination
- Non-renewal, exit, or selling your franchise
- Restrictions on what you can do after you leave
How we help
Six services, used as far as your dispute needs. The first four come before any legal action; the last two apply only if a matter goes further.
Before any legal action
Most franchise disputes can be settled at this stage, without court and without large legal bills.
Pre-legal advice
Plain-English guidance on your franchise agreement, the dispute with your franchisor and the options open to you.
Find out moreEvidence and fact-finding
Gathering, ordering and reviewing your documents, correspondence, figures and timeline to build a clear case file.
Find out moreNegotiation with the franchisor
Acting for you in direct talks with your franchisor to reach a settlement without legal action.
Find out moreMediation and arbitration support
Preparing you for mediation or arbitration with your franchisor and supporting you through it.
Find out moreIf the matter goes further
These apply only if a dispute moves into formal proceedings.
Representation where permitted
Representing you in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and some other settings where the rules allow a non-solicitor to do so.
Find out moreFinding a suitable lawyer
If it goes legal: a franchise specialist solicitor, your evidence pack handed over to save thousands in legal fees, and expert third-party advice alongside them.
Find out moreHow it works
Tell us what has happened
Call or email in confidence. Initial discussions are free and there is no obligation.
Evidence, facts and an honest view
We gather the evidence, establish the facts and tell you plainly whether you have a case.
Resolve, or hand over
We put your case to the franchisor. If it goes legal, your solicitor starts with your evidence pack, and we keep working alongside them.
Save money. Keep trading.
Save money
The groundwork is done before any solicitor is involved. If one is needed, your evidence pack can save thousands of pounds in legal fees.
Keep trading
We aim to resolve the dispute while your business keeps running, not after it has been worn down by a long fight.
An honest view
We tell you plainly whether you have a case, even when it is not what you want to hear.
On your side
We act for franchisees only, never for the franchisor, and we are independent of any fee-paying franchise association or membership.
Questions and answers
What is a franchise dispute?
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.
How do you save me money?
Most of the cost in a franchise dispute comes from solicitors' time. We do the evidence gathering, fact-finding and negotiation first, at a fixed weekly price. 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.
Is this just mediation?
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.
I have a problem with my franchisor. Where do I start?
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.
My franchise is not making the money I was told it would. Do I have a case?
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.
Can my franchisor terminate my franchise agreement?
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 Martin straight away.
Can I stop paying fees to my franchisor while we are in dispute?
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.
Can I keep trading while the dispute is sorted out?
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.
Do I need a solicitor for a franchise dispute?
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.
What is an 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.
How long does it take?
It depends on the dispute and on how quickly your franchisor responds. We give you our honest view at the start and keep you updated. You can stop at any time with one week's notice.
What does it cost?
Initial discussions are free. If you want us to act for you, it is £250 a week per case, with a small fixed fee on success, agreed in writing before any work starts.
Are you solicitors?
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.
Are initial discussions really free?
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.
Call or email Martin today, in confidence
Tell us what has happened with your franchise. Initial discussions are free.