In Washington, is Bft allowed to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of the Bft franchisor?

According to Bft's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bft is prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of Bft in Washington state. This is due to RCW 49.62.060, a Washington state law, which explicitly prohibits such restrictions. Therefore, any provisions within the franchise agreement that attempt to prevent a Bft franchisee from soliciting or hiring Bft employees are considered void and unenforceable in Washington.

This protection extends to both (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor and (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of the franchisor. This means a Bft franchisee in Washington has the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other Bft franchise locations or from Bft corporate itself, without fear of legal repercussions from Bft.

This provision provides a significant benefit to franchisees in Washington, as it allows them to compete for talent within the Bft network. It also ensures that Bft franchisees are not unduly restricted in their ability to staff their businesses. Prospective franchisees should be aware of this protection and understand that any conflicting terms in the franchise agreement are unenforceable in Washington.