What law governs the franchise agreements between the parties for a 360 Painting franchise in Illinois?
360_Painting Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act requires that certain provisions contained in franchise documents, including the Franchise Agreement, be amended to be consistent with Illinois law. Therefore, to the extent that the Franchise Agreement contains provisions that are inconsistent with the following, the modification set forth below shall be controlling:
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- Illinois law governs the agreements between the parties to this franchise.
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- Section 4 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act provides that any provision in a franchise agreement that designates jurisdiction or venue outside the State of Illinois is void. However, a franchise agreement may provide for arbitration outside of Illinois.
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- Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act provides that any condition, stipulation or provision purporting to bind any person acquiring any franchise to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other law of Illinois is void.
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- Your rights upon termination and non-renewal of a franchise agreement are set forth in Sections 19 and 20 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act.
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- THE FRANCHISOR MAY SUBCONTRACT PAINTING, DECORATING AND WALL FINISHING SERVICES WITHIN YOUR "PROTECTED" TERRITORY TO OTHER (INCLUDING TO OTHER FRANCHISEES) WITH NO COMPENSATION TO YOU.
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- Sections 4.1 and 4.7 of the Franchise Agreement are modified to reflect that Franchisor must defer the payment of all initial fees payable to Franchisor until Franchisor has fulfilled all of its material preopening obligations to Franchisee and Franchisee has commenced doing business pursuant to the Franchise Agreement. The Illinois Attorney General's Office imposed this deferral requirement due to Franchisor's financial condition. Accordingly, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Franchise Agreement, Franchisee must pay Franchisor the Franchise Fee and initial technology fee payable to Franchisor at the time Franchisor has fulfilled all of its material pre-opening obligations to Franchisee and Franchisee has commenced doing business pursuant to the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 42–46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act governs the franchise agreements for 360 Painting franchises in Illinois. The FDD specifies that certain provisions within the franchise documents, including the Franchise Agreement, must be consistent with Illinois law due to the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act.
Specifically, the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act dictates several key aspects of the franchise relationship. It states that any provision designating jurisdiction or venue outside of Illinois is void, although arbitration outside the state is permitted. Additionally, any condition that requires a franchisee to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other Illinois law is also void. The Act also outlines the franchisee's rights upon termination and non-renewal of the franchise agreement.
The FDD also notes that the Illinois Attorney General's Office requires 360 Painting to defer the payment of initial fees until the franchisor has fulfilled all material pre-opening obligations and the franchisee has commenced business. This deferral requirement is due to 360 Painting's financial condition. Therefore, franchisees in Illinois will not have to pay the Franchise Fee and initial technology fee until 360 Painting has met its pre-opening obligations and the franchisee has started operations.