What are the benefits of consulting a specialist franchise lawyer before investing in a franchise?

Entering into a franchise agreement can result in a franchisee making a substantial investment in both time and money, as well as taking on a number of legal obligations. This is why taking appropriate legal advice may be a sensible first step.The benefit of consulting a specialist franchise lawyer is that they will understand how franchises generally work, understand the main issues and have a good knowledge of the franchise industry, which means their advice should be delivered in a more appropriate and cost effective manner.A specialist franchise lawyer will understand the commercial rationale behind the franchise agreement and will not waste your time and money getting into pointless arguments with the franchisor over the agreement’s terms. Instead, the lawyer should focus their advice on highlighting the key areas of risk in the franchise agreement and how you might go about managing those risks.