Are there any geographic limitations on where jurisdiction or venue can be designated in the Focus Cfo Franchise Agreement?

According to the 2025 Focus Cfo Franchise Disclosure Document, the standard agreement dictates that any legal action, excluding those requiring arbitration, must be initiated in the appropriate state court located in or serving Franklin County, Ohio. This applies to actions brought by either Focus Cfo or the franchisee. Both parties agree to waive any objections regarding personal jurisdiction or venue to uphold this provision. However, Focus Cfo retains the right to pursue claims for injunctive relief in the jurisdiction where the franchisee is located. This jurisdiction and venue provision does not prevent either party from enforcing judgments or arbitration awards in any suitable jurisdiction.

However, the FDD also indicates that there are exceptions to this rule for franchisees residing in North Dakota. For these franchisees, any legal action, again excluding those subject to arbitration, must be brought in the appropriate state or federal court within North Dakota. Similar to the standard agreement, Focus Cfo can bring claims for injunctive relief where the North Dakota franchisee is located, and the parties retain the right to enforce judgments or arbitration awards in any appropriate jurisdiction.

In practical terms, this means that if a prospective franchisee is not located in North Dakota, they may have to travel to Franklin County, Ohio, for any legal disputes with Focus Cfo, which could increase legal costs. Conversely, North Dakota franchisees will have the benefit of resolving disputes in their home state. Franchisees should consider these jurisdictional clauses and their potential impact when evaluating the Focus Cfo franchise opportunity.