Montana Franchise Registration

With a population of fewer than one million residents, the state of Montana is among the best places to live and do business in the United States. Most people relocate to Montana for various outdoor activities and breathtaking scenery, attracting a steady flow of qualified applicants from all over the country. The state has many benefits for people looking to establish their business, such as low cost of living due to reasonable wages, making Montana among the leaders in “rural on-shore” migration. Companies in Montana are not required to collect or pay sales tax. The state has a light regulatory burden, like offering businesses inexpensive property if they are looking to expand.

Before franchising your business in the state, it is advisable to ask yourself whether that is the right option for your business model. When expanding your franchise into a new state, you need to familiarize yourself with the set federal and state regulations. Montana is not a franchise registration state, meaning that a franchisor is not required to notify the state if you intend to offer or sell a franchise. However, there are still requirements that every franchisor needs to adhere to by the Federal Franchise Laws to avoid complications.

Before offering or selling the franchise in Montana, the state requires you to have a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) compliance with the Franchise Trade Commission. In addition, since the state has not enacted franchise laws, franchisors need to disclose to the franchisee any intent of selling the franchise 14 days before setting a date for sale.

The FDD is considered a crucial document that franchisors are required to have by the state since it is legally required when presenting a prospective buyer with relevant information before purchasing. In addition, the FDD contains critical information regarding various aspects of the franchise. A franchise lawyer can help you ensure that your Franchise Disclosure Document contains the correct information.

The state of Montana offers franchisors numerous benefits once you have complied with the Franchise Trade Commission and you are cleared to venture into the state’s business market. This means that you must disclose information that you will discuss in the Franchise Disclosure Document to the prospective franchisee. The information and disclosure that is presented to the prospect are limited to the FDD. If you discuss anything that is not contained in the FDD, you risk violating Federal Franchise Law.

As a franchisor in Montana, it is essential to ensure that your FDD contains relevant information since that is the only document you must have. This means including the cost of the franchise and other requirements like the correct estimates as stipulated in the Estimate Initial Investment. 

A franchisor who lacks financial performance representation, your conversation will be limited to potential earnings. Cost is considered the most basic information in the FDD, and if you mask costs, you risk violating franchise laws at the state and federal level.

For more information on how to register your franchise in Montana, visit the Franchise Marketing Systems site:  www.FMSFranchise.com/about-franchising/guidelines/stateregulations