Franchise Disclosure Document Review

California Franchise Disclosure Document Review

Most Attorneys Review Your FDD. David Has Lived It.

Any franchise attorney can read a Franchise Disclosure Document. What sets this firm apart is that lead attorney David Scott Levaton has personally owned and operated franchised businesses — across multiple concepts, at multiple units. He has sat exactly where you are sitting right now: weighing a franchise agreement, trying to decode dense legal language, and figuring out what the real risks mean for his family and his investment.

That firsthand experience changes how a review gets done.

David's FDD review is not just a legal scan of what the document says. It is a translation — taking the terms of your specific agreement and showing you what they will actually mean when you are open and operating. How will the royalty structure affect your margins? What do the territory provisions really mean in practice? Which clauses are negotiable, and which franchisors will never move on? When should you seriously reconsider the deal?

That is the kind of counsel you get here. And every review — regardless of which package you choose — is personally handled by David, start to finish.

Three Packages. Every One Handled Personally by David. 

We offer three flat-fee review packages so you can choose the level of service that fits your experience and your investment. When interviewing attorneys, make sure you know exactly what you are getting — we are as specific as possible about what is included in each package.

Buying a Franchise: FDD Review Packages

  • Full Comprehensive Franchised Business Review Recommended For A New Franchisee

    Initial consultation up to 30-minutes

    • Discussion on your goals for your business choice
    • Answer any questions you may have on the process of buying a franchise

    FDD Review

    • Prepare an annotated written summary of the FDD, franchise agreement and attendant agreements you may be subject to, as well as provide certain exhibits from the FDD for our discussion
    • The annotations will point out areas of specific interest and concern
    • Areas where the law you will be subject to may impact the terms of the agreement and areas you may want to attempt to negotiate to get you the most favorable terms
    • We will prepare a negotiation sheet to provide to the franchisor

    Up to 2-hour post FDD review conference:

    • Discuss franchising as a business model, the good and bad
    • An in-depth review of the annotated summary
    • Respond to all questions you may have regarding franchising, entity
  • FDD Review For People With Some Franchise Experience And Knowledge
    • Prepare an annotated written summary of the FDD, franchise agreement and attendant agreements you may be subject to as well as provide specific exhibits from the FDD which you should be aware of and review
    • The annotations will point out areas of specific interest and concern
    • Areas where the law you will be subject to may impact the terms of the agreement and areas you may want to attempt to negotiate to get the most favorable terms

    One hour post review conference:

    • A review of the annotated summary
    • Respond to all questions you may have regarding franchising, entity formation or the FDD review summary
  • Review Lite Not Recommended For New Franchisees, But For Those Who Already Own Or Have Operated Franchised Businesses
    • I will Review the FDD and opportunity
    • Provide exhibits from the FDD which you should be familiar with
    • No written summary, but we will have a one hour discussion on the business opportunity, areas of concern and impactful/important provisions relating to the specific business being reviewed and if a renewal any provisions which may be different than the ones you are currently operating under

Contact Franchise Legal Support Today!

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What to Ask Any Attorney Before You Hire Them

When speaking with attorneys about an FDD review, make sure the process is clearly defined before you engage. Here is what working with Franchise Legal Support looks like:

  • 30+ years representing franchisees, with personal experience as a multi-unit franchise owner and operator across different business categories
  • Every review personally handled by David — you will not be passed off to an associate or junior attorney
  • A written annotated summary included in the Full and Standard packages — a documented record of findings, red flags, and negotiation opportunities that is yours to keep
  • A prepared negotiation sheet to bring to the franchisor — so you enter that conversation with a strategy, not just questions
  • Availability through the negotiation process — David remains available to you and your franchisor for discussions after the review is complete
  • Transparent flat-fee pricing — the full scope of each package is defined before you engage, with no unexpected costs

Frequently Asked Questions About FDD Reviews

What is an FDD? 

A Franchise Disclosure Document is the legal document franchisors are required to provide to prospective franchisees before any agreement is signed. It contains 23 items covering the franchisor's background, fees, obligations, litigation history, financial performance data, and more. It is long, dense, and drafted in the franchisor's interest — which is precisely why having an experienced franchise attorney review it with you matters.

Can I negotiate the terms of my franchise agreement? 

Some franchisors will negotiate, and some will not. It often depends on the size of the system and how in-demand the franchise is. What matters is knowing which provisions are worth pressing on and how to make the request effectively. As part of the Full and Standard reviews, David prepares a negotiation sheet outlining the specific changes to request — so you are not guessing at what is reasonable to ask for.

What if I do not understand part of the FDD? 

That is exactly what the post-review conference is for. Every package includes dedicated time with David to walk through the findings, answer your questions, and make sure you understand what you are agreeing to before you sign.

How often is the FDD updated? 

Franchisors are required to update their FDD annually or whenever there is a material change in the business. If you are reviewing a renewal, it is important to compare the current FDD against the version you originally signed — David addresses this as part of the Review Lite package.

What does the FTC Rule require? 

The FTC Rule governs the form and content of the FDD and, along with applicable state law, requires that the FDD be provided to a prospective franchisee at least 14 days before any agreement is signed or any consideration is paid. This gives you time to review — but only if you use it well.

Ready to Get Started?

Buying a franchise is one of the largest financial commitments most people make. The FDD is long, written by the franchisor's attorneys, and not designed to make the risks easy to see. Having an attorney who has been on both sides of that document — as a franchisee and as legal counsel for over 30 years — means you get advice grounded in real experience, not just legal theory.

Call David at (323) 745-2699 or use the contact form below to schedule your review.

All reviews are personally conducted by David Scott Levaton, Esq. Flat fees cover the full scope of each package.

Franchisee resources We Are Ready to Help

If you are a franchisee, please check out our list of resources that provide useful information for operating your franchise.