In April 2026, Virginia amended the Virginia Retail Franchising Act making significant modifications to post-termination competition restrictions. Virginia has enacted significant new protections for franchisees regarding post-term competition restrictions.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The legislation includes two main changes:
1. Governing Law Requirement: All retail franchise agreements involving franchises offered or operating in
On April 26, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will reinstate the SBA Franchise Directory, effective June 1, 2025. This decision marks a significant policy shift following the discontinuation of the directory in 2023 established in 2018. Urgent action must be undertaken if franchisors want their franchisees to qualify for SBA
Gift cards and loyalty programs can be effective tools in generating sales, developing brand awareness, generating actionable customer data, and driving repeat business. When these programs are implemented on a single-store basis they fairly straightforward to administer. When rolled out through a network of independently owned franchised business, these programs require more attention and planning