In Illinois, is any condition in the Ledgers Franchise Agreement that binds a franchisee to waive compliance with Illinois law valid?
Ledgers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- D. In conformance with Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, any condition, stipulation, or provision of the Franchise Agreement purporting to bind you to waive compliance with any provision of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other law of the State of Illinois is void.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ledgers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any condition within the franchise agreement that compels a franchisee to waive compliance with any provision of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other Illinois state law is considered void. This protection is explicitly stated to conform with Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act.
This means that Ledgers franchisees in Illinois cannot be forced to sign away their rights under Illinois law as a condition of the franchise agreement. This provision ensures that franchisees retain all legal protections afforded to them by the state, preventing Ledgers from imposing terms that might circumvent Illinois regulations.
For a prospective Ledgers franchisee in Illinois, this is a significant safeguard. It ensures that the franchisee cannot be pressured into relinquishing their legal rights or protections under Illinois law. This clause provides a level of security and recourse, should any disputes or issues arise during the franchise term.