Last updated: September 9, 2026
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of thefranchisecourier.com (the “Site”), operated by The Franchise Courier, a publication of FMS Franchise (Franchise Marketing Systems). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
1. About the Site and its content
The Site provides news, commentary, and general educational information about the franchise industry, including topics such as franchise disclosure, fees and royalties, franchise readiness, and brand growth.
The content on the Site is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, accounting, or investment advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Franchising is regulated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and by several states, and every situation is different. Before making any decision about buying, selling, or offering a franchise, you should consult a qualified franchise attorney and financial advisor and carefully review the applicable Franchise Disclosure Document.
Nothing on the Site is an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy a franchise, and no such offer will be made except through a Franchise Disclosure Document delivered in compliance with applicable law. Use of the Site does not create any franchisor-franchisee, agency, partnership, joint venture, employment, or fiduciary relationship between you and The Franchise Courier or FMS Franchise.
2. Accuracy of information
We work to keep information current and accurate, but the Site may contain errors, omissions, or out-of-date material. Laws, regulations, fees, and industry practices change. We make no representation that the content is complete, accurate, or current, and we are not obligated to update it.
3. Intellectual property
The Site and its content, including text, graphics, logos, and the compilation of all content, are owned by The Franchise Courier or FMS Franchise or their licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws. You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive licence to access and view the content for your own personal, non-commercial use.
You may not reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the Site without our prior written permission, except that you may share links to individual articles and quote brief excerpts with clear attribution and a link back to the source page. “The Franchise Courier” and associated logos are trademarks of their respective owners; other names and marks are the property of their respective owners.
4. User submissions
If you submit a comment, message, or other material through the Site, you represent that you have the right to do so and that the material is not unlawful, defamatory, infringing, or otherwise objectionable. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, edit, and display that material in connection with operating and promoting the Site.
You agree not to use the Site to post spam or advertising, harass or defame others, upload malicious code, scrape or harvest data, misrepresent your identity or affiliation, or violate any law. We may moderate, edit, or remove submissions and restrict or terminate access at our discretion, without notice.
5. Third-party links and advertising
The Site links to and may display advertising for third-party websites and services, including affiliated sites such as fmsfranchise.com and franchiseconduit.com. We do not control and are not responsible for the content, products, services, or practices of any third party. Links and advertisements are not endorsements, and your dealings with third parties are solely between you and that party.
6. Disclaimer of warranties
The Site and all content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and any warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any defects will be corrected.
7. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Franchise Courier, FMS Franchise, and their officers, employees, and contributors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunities, arising out of or relating to your use of or inability to use the Site or any content, whether based in contract, tort, or any other legal theory, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Site will not exceed one hundred U.S. dollars (US$100).
8. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Franchise Courier and FMS Franchise and their officers, employees, and contributors from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or connected with your use of the Site, your submissions, or your breach of these Terms.
9. Governing law and venue
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Site will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Fulton County, Georgia, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.
10. Changes to these Terms
We may revise these Terms at any time by posting the updated version on this page with a new “Last updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
11. General
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Site.
12. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Email [email protected] or write to The Franchise Courier, c/o FMS Franchise, 6110 McFarland Station Dr, Unit 105, Alpharetta, GA 30004, USA.