factual

For a Ledgers franchise in Washington, what is the effect of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act on the franchise agreement?

Ledgers Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

he initial franchise fee and other initial payments owed by franchisees to the franchisor until the franchisor has completed its pre-opening obligations under the franchise agreement."

Washington Addendum to the Franchise Disclosure Document, Franchise Agreement, and Related Agreements

The provisions of this Addendum form an integral part of, are incorporated into, and modify the Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement, and all related agreements regardless of anything to the contrary contained therein. This Addendum applies if: (a) the offer to sell a franchise is accepted in Washington; (b) the purchaser of the franchise is a resident of Washington; and/or (c) the franchised business that is the subject of the sale is to be located or operated, wholly or partly, in Washington.

    1. Conflict of Laws. In the event of a conflict of laws, the provisions of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, chapter 19.100 RCW will prevail.
    1. Franchisee Bill of Rights. RCW 19.100.180 may supersede provisions in the franchise agreement or related agreements concerning your relationship with the franchisor, including in the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise. There may also be court decisions that supersede the franchise agreement or related agreements concerning your relationship with the franchisor. Franchise agreement provisions, including those summarized in Item 17 of the Franchise Disclosure Document, are subject to state law.
    1. Site of Arbitration, Mediation, and/or Litigation. In any arbitration or mediation involving a franchise purchased in Washington, the arbitration or mediation site will be either in the state of Washington, or in a place mutually agreed upon at the time of the arbitration or mediation, or as determined by the arbitrator or mediator at the time of arbitration or mediation. In addition, if litigation is not precluded by the franchise agreement, a franchisee may bring an action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with the sale of franchises, or a violation of the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, in Washington.
    1. General Release. A release or waiver of rights in the franchise agreement or related agreements purporting to bind the franchisee to waive compliance with any provision under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act or any rules or orders thereunder is void except when executed pursuant to a negotiated settlement after the agreement is in effect and where the parties are represented by independent counsel, in accordance with RCW 19.100.220(2). In addition, any such release or waiver executed in connection with a renewal or transfer of a franchise is likewise void except as provided for in RCW 19.100.220(2).
    1. Statute of Limitations and Waiver of Jury Trial. Provisions contained in the franchise agreement or related agreements that unreasonably restrict or limit the statute of limitations period for claims under the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act, or rights or remedies under the Act such as a right to a jury trial, may not be enforceable.
    1. Transfer Fees. Transfer fees are collectable only to the extent that they reflect the franchisor's reasonable estimated or actual costs in effecting a transfer.
    1. Termination by Franchisee. The franchisee may terminate the franchise agreement under any grounds permitted under state law.
    1. Certain Buy-Back Provisions. Provisions in franchise agreements or related agreements that permit the franchisor to repurchase the franchisee's business for any reason during the term of the franchise agreement without the franchisee's consent are unlawful pursuant to RCW 19.100.180(2)(j), unless the franchise is terminated for good cause.
    1. Fair and Reasonable Pricing. Any provision in the franchise agreement or related agreements that requires the franchisee to purchase or rent any product or service for more than a fair and reasonable price is unlawful under RCW 19.100.180(2)(d).
    1. Waiver of Exemplary & Punitive Damages. RCW 19.100.190 permits franchisees to seek treble damages under certain circumstances. Accordingly, provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere requiring franchisees to waive exemplary, punitive, or similar damages are void, except when executed pursuant to a negotiated settlement after the agreement is in effect and where the parties are represented by independent counsel, in accordance with RCW 19.100.220(2).
    1. Franchisor's Business Judgement. Provisions in the franchise agreement or related agreements stating that the franchisor may exercise its discretion on the basis of its reasonable business judgment may be limited or superseded by RCW 19.100.180(1), which requires the parties to deal with each other in good faith.
    1. Indemnification. Any provision in the franchise agreement or related agreements requiring the franchisee to indemnify, reimburse, defend, or hold harmless the franchisor or other parties is hereby modified such that the franchisee has no obligation to indemnify, reimburse, defend, or hold harmless the franchisor or any other indemnified party for losses or liabilities to the extent that they are caused by the indemnified party's negligence, willful misconduct, strict liability, or fraud.
    1. Attorneys' Fees. If the franchise agreement or related agreements require a franchisee to reimburse the franchisor for court costs or expenses, including attorneys' fees, such provision applies only if the franchisor is the prevailing party in any judicial or arbitration proceeding.
    1. Noncompetition Covenants. Pursuant to RCW 49.62.020, a noncompetition covenant is void and unenforceable against an employee, including an employee of a franchisee, unless the employee's earnings from the party seeking enforcement, when annualized, exceed $100,000 per year (an amount that will be adjusted annually for inflation).

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 46)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Ledgers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act significantly impacts the franchise agreement for franchises located or sold in Washington. Several provisions within the franchise agreement that might conflict with the Act are rendered void and unenforceable in Washington.

Specifically, any release or waiver of rights that requires a franchisee to waive compliance with the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act is void, unless it's part of a negotiated settlement with independent counsel after the agreement is in effect. Similarly, any release connected to a franchise renewal or transfer is also void, except as provided in RCW 19.100.220(2). Provisions that unreasonably restrict the statute of limitations for claims under the Act or limit rights such as a jury trial may not be enforceable. Transfer fees are only collectable to the extent they reflect Ledgers' reasonable costs in effecting the transfer. The franchisee has the right to terminate the franchise agreement on any grounds permitted by state law.

Furthermore, Ledgers cannot repurchase the franchisee's business without consent unless there is good cause for termination. Any requirement for the franchisee to purchase or rent products/services at unfair prices is unlawful. The franchise agreement cannot prohibit a franchisee from communicating with regulators, as this is inconsistent with the Franchise Disclosure Document and unlawful under RCW 19.100.180(2)(h). Additionally, Ledgers is prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of either another Ledgers franchisee or Ledgers itself. Any statements or acknowledgments signed by the franchisee cannot waive claims under state franchise law or disclaim reliance on statements made by Ledgers or its representatives. In case of conflicting laws, the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act will take precedence.

For a prospective Ledgers franchisee in Washington, this means that the state's franchise laws provide significant protections that override conflicting terms in the standard franchise agreement. Franchisees should be aware of these protections and consult with legal counsel to ensure their rights are fully understood and protected under Washington law.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.