If the franchise business is located in Illinois, does Focus Cfo require this addendum to be signed?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| CFO," | This Addendum is made and entered by and between Focus CFO Group, LLC, ("Focus "Franchisor," ("Franchisee," "you" or "your"). | "Company", | "us", | "we" | or | "our"), | and |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Focus CFO and Franchisee are parties to that certain Franchise Agreement dated | ||||||
| , 20 | (the "Franchise Agreement") that has been signed concurrently | ||||||
| with the signing of this Addendum. This Addendum is attached to and forms a part of the Franchise | |||||||
| Agreement. This Addendum has been signed because (a) Franchisee is domiciled in Illinois; (b) | |||||||
| the offer of the franchise is made or accepted in Illinois; (c) the franchise business is or will be | |||||||
| located in Illinois; or (d) the franchised business is or will be located in Illinois. | |||||||
| 2. | Illinois law governs the Franchise Agreement. | ||||||
| 3. | In conformance with Section 4 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, any | ||||||
| provision in a franchise agreement that designates jurisdiction and venue in a forum outside of the | |||||||
| State of Illinois is void. However, a franchise agreement may provide for arbitration to take place | |||||||
| outside of Illinois. | |||||||
| 4. | Your rights upon Termination and Non-Renewal are set forth in sections 19 and 20 | ||||||
| of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act. | |||||||
| 5. | In conformance with section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, 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. | |||||||
| IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned hereby acknowledge having read this | |||||||
| Addendum and understands and consents to be bound by all of its terms. | |||||||
| Focus CFO Group, LLC | Franchise: | ||||||
| By: | By: | ||||||
| Its: | Its: | ||||||
| Dated: | Dated: |
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Focus Cfo Franchise Disclosure Document, an addendum must be signed if the franchise business is located in Illinois. The addendum is made between Focus Cfo Group, LLC and the franchisee. The reasons for signing this addendum include the franchisee being domiciled in Illinois, the franchise offer being made or accepted in Illinois, or the franchise business being located in Illinois.
The Illinois addendum specifies that Illinois law governs the Franchise Agreement. It also states that any provision in the franchise agreement that designates jurisdiction and venue in a forum outside of Illinois is void, although arbitration may take place outside of Illinois. The addendum also references sections of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act regarding rights upon termination and non-renewal, as well as stipulations against waiving compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other Illinois law.
This addendum ensures that Focus Cfo franchisees operating in Illinois are protected by Illinois state laws. It prevents Focus Cfo from enforcing provisions that might violate the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act and ensures that legal disputes can be addressed within the state, providing a level of legal protection and clarity for franchisees in Illinois.