Is a Cinnaholic franchisor allowed to restrict a franchisee in Washington from soliciting or hiring employees of other franchisees of the same franchisor?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- **15.
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 Cinnaholic's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a Cinnaholic franchise is located in Washington, the franchisor cannot restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of other Cinnaholic franchisees. This protection is explicitly stated in the Washington Addendum to the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Specifically, RCW 49.62.060 prohibits Cinnaholic from enforcing any provision that would prevent a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of another Cinnaholic franchisee or from soliciting or hiring any employee of Cinnaholic itself. The FDD clearly states that any conflicting provisions within the franchise agreement are considered void and unenforceable in Washington.
This regulation provides a significant benefit to Cinnaholic franchisees in Washington, as it allows them to freely recruit and hire qualified individuals who may already be working within the Cinnaholic franchise system. This can be a valuable resource for finding experienced and knowledgeable staff, potentially reducing training costs and improving operational efficiency. Prospective franchisees should confirm with Cinnaholic that their franchise agreement reflects these state-specific protections.