You have your Franchise Disclosure Document [FDD] updated, and you are ready to sell franchises. Before advertising, there may be one other step that you need to take. The following states require that your franchise advertisements be submitted for review before publication or distribution.
| · California | · Indiana | · Maryland |
| · Minnesota | · New York | · North Dakota |
| · Rhode Island |
· South Dakota |
· Washington |
The word advertisement in this context is used loosely. For purposes of state review of advertisements, an “advertisement” includes virtually any document or letter given or sent to a prospective franchisee before or during the sale of the franchise, including, but not limited to, any
- Brochures;
- Photographs;
- e-mails or letters sent or given to prospective franchisees;
- newspaper, magazine, radio or television ads;
- leaflets, photographs or brochures left in the company’s office;
- signs or pictures in the office directed at selling franchises; and even
- recorded telephone messages.
Advertisements in newspapers or other publications of general, regular and paid circulation which have had more than ⅔ of their circulation outside the state during the past 12 months, and radio or television programs originating outside the state, are NOT required to be submitted for pre-publication approval.
However, a newspaper or magazine article about the company that was originally published in another state or in a newspaper or magazine with more than ⅔ of its circulation outside the state must be submitted for approval if you mail copies to prospective franchisees in a state that does require pre-publication approval.