What is the effect of RCW 49.62.060 on nonsolicitation agreements for Cinnaholic franchisees in Washington?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Nonsolicitation Agreements.** RCW 49.62.060 prohibits a franchisor from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor or (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of the franchisor.
As a result, any such provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere are void and unenforceable in Washington.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 27–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, RCW 49.62.060 directly impacts nonsolicitation agreements for Cinnaholic franchisees in Washington. This statute prohibits Cinnaholic from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of either another Cinnaholic franchisee or Cinnaholic itself.
This means that any clause within the franchise agreement or any related document that attempts to prevent a Cinnaholic franchisee in Washington from hiring employees from other Cinnaholic locations or from Cinnaholic corporate is legally void and unenforceable. This protects the franchisee's ability to recruit and hire talent, regardless of their current employer within the Cinnaholic system.
For a prospective Cinnaholic franchisee in Washington, this is a significant benefit. It ensures they have the freedom to build their team by attracting qualified individuals who may already be familiar with the Cinnaholic brand and operations. This can be a valuable resource for staffing and potentially reduce training time and costs. Franchisees should carefully review their franchise agreement to ensure compliance with this Washington state law.