Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A.

06/08/2026

‘5 Warning Signs Your Franchise Agreement Is Too One-Sided’

The arrives and it’s intimidating. It’s long. It’s filled with legal language. And every word in it was written by the franchisor’s attorneys. That’s not a conspiracy. It’s just business.

That being said, it means you need to read it like someone whose money is on the line.
Because it is.

Simply put, it’s thick. It’s dense. And again, it’s written by the franchisor’s legal team.

That last part matters.

Because a franchise agreement is drafted to protect the . That’s not inherently wrong. But there’s a difference between a balanced agreement that protects the brand and one that leaves exposed at every turn.

Key Takeaways:

Franchise agreements are written by franchisors, for franchisors. That’s the starting point every prospective franchisee needs to accept.

The 5 warning signs covered here include:
*Predatory termination clauses
*Restrictive transfer rights
*Vague territory protections
*One-sided renewal terms
*Unfair dispute resolution language.

Now, those things don’t automatically mean a franchise system is bad. They mean you’re potentially carrying more risk than you should be. Plus, unbalanced agreements compound over time.

Seeing that, the most important step you can take is hiring a before you sign anything. Not a general practice attorney. A franchise attorney.

The fact is that these agreements are long, dense, and full of language that requires specialized legal knowledge.

But the best part is that a qualified franchise attorney will tell you what’s negotiable, what’s boilerplate, and what’s a genuine dealbreaker.

Finally, that legal review costs a fraction of your total investment. Skipping it is one of the most expensive mistakes a buyer can make.

READ MORE:
https://www.zarcolaw.com/blog/2026/06/5-warning-signs-your-franchise-agreement-is-too-one-sided/

The franchise agreement arrives and it's intimidating. It's long. It's filled with legal language. And every word in it was written by the franchisor's attorneys. That's not a conspiracy. It's just business. That being said, it means you need to read it like someone whose money is on the line. Becau...

06/04/2026

🏆 Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A. is honored to be recognized once again in the 2026 edition of among the nation's leading law firms in the highly competitive : Mainly – USA Nationwide category.

We are also proud that Chambers USA individually recognized four of our attorneys for their work in :

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Notably, Robert Zarco was recognized in Band 1, Chambers USA’s highest ranking tier, continuing a distinguished Chambers USA ranking history dating back to 2010.

This recognition reflects our firm's longstanding commitment to representing , , multi-unit operators, and business owners in and throughout the United States and internationally.

We are especially proud that our firm includes two recipients of the prestigious American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) Award—Robert Zarco (2021) and Robert M. Einhorn (2025)—reflecting decades of leadership and advocacy on behalf of franchisees and .

Thank you to our clients, colleagues, referral sources, and friends for your continued trust and support.

Coalition of Franchisee Associations International Franchise Association ABA Forum on Franchising Franchise Times Magazine Franchise Business Review Franchising USA Haute Lawyer Haute Living AAHOA

05/29/2026

on the cover of Franchising World magazine! 🤩

Dive into our extensive resources on the topic that interests you. It's like a masterclass to be explored at your own pace.

05/27/2026

Navigating Commercial Real Estate Litigation: Protecting Your Franchise Location Rights

After looking at 5 different spots, you finally found what you and your franchisor feel to be the right one.

Three months later you’re open. Business is good. You feel good with your choice.

Fast forward to one year in. Your has officially stopped returning calls about the broken HVAC system in your store.

Or maybe it’s time to renew your lease, and the renewal terms came back with conditions you didn’t see coming.

Welcome to one of the most underestimated risks in : .

Key Takeaways of Navigating Commercial Real Estate Litigation:

Your is a legal document, not a formality. Most spend more time reviewing the than their .

The lease governs your location rights, renewal options, and financial exposure in a dispute. That said, you need to remember to give it the same scrutiny you give everything else you sign.

It should be noted that your is not your advocate in a . Franchisors have their own relationships with landlords and their own system-level priorities.

Translation: When a real estate conflict develops, their interests and yours can diverge fast. You need independent, highly-qualified legal counsel — someone who represents you, not the brand.

What’s my point?

The costliest mistakes happen before litigation starts. Franchisees miss notice deadlines. They sign amendment language that waives rights they didn’t even know they had.

So, by the time a gets involved, the damage is done.

Tip: If a is developing, you need to get qualified legal assistance early.

Finally, experience shows that location conflicts between franchisees and landlords are more common than most people think — and more damaging than most people anticipate.

READ MORE:
https://www.zarcolaw.com/blog/2026/05/navigating-commercial-real-estate-litigation-protecting-your-franchise-location-rights/






American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) Coalition of Franchisee Associations ABA Forum on Franchising Franchise Times Magazine International Franchise Association Litigation Counsel of America Restaurant Business ABA Litigation Section Haute Lawyer AAHOA

After looking at 5 different spots, you finally found what you and your franchisor feel to be the right one. Three months later you’re open. Business is good. You feel good with your choice. Fast forward to one year in. Your landlord has officially stopped returning calls about the broken HVAC sys...

05/23/2026

This Memorial Day weekend, we honor and remember with great gratitude the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

May we never forget their courage, dedication, and the freedoms they helped protect. Wishing everyone a meaningful and safe Memorial Day weekend!

05/22/2026

Attorney — widely known as “The Great Equalizer” for leveling the playing field for franchisees — participated in a high-level spirited debate alongside nationally respected franchisor attorneys during the featured program: “Tough Franchise Relationship Conversations Between Franchise Gladiators” at the 2026 International Franchise Association’s in Washington, D.C.

Zarco and the other “Gladiators” were also featured on the cover of Franchise World magazine recognizing their participation in one of the Symposium’s most anticipated discussions addressing complex franchisor-franchisee issues shaping today’s franchise arena.

05/21/2026

“The Great Equalizers” Show Strong Presence at the 2026 IFA Legal Symposium

Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A. was proud to have six attorneys attend and participate in this year’s International Franchise Association’s IFA Legal Symposium, held May 17–19 in Washington, D.C. — one of the franchise industry’s premier gatherings of franchise attorneys, executives, regulators, and thought leaders, with approximately 500 attendees from across the country.

Firm partners Robert Zarco, , and were honored to speak on panels addressing some of today’s most significant and complex issues in the franchise arena, including franchisor-franchisee disputes, trade secret litigation, and critical franchise agreement provisions.

Attorney — renowned as “The Great Equalizer” for and for leveling the playing field in — was also featured on the cover of Franchise World magazine for his participation in a high-level spirited debate alongside nationally recognized attorneys during the featured program: “Tough Franchise Relationship Conversations Between Franchise Gladiators.”

The event also marked the firm debut of attorney — daughter of founding partner — joining the talented team at Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A. following six years practicing commercial litigation with Berger Singerman, LLP. Also joining the conference included firm attorneys and .

The Symposium provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with franchise professionals from across the country. Our team also enjoyed spending time together outside the conference sessions during several outstanding networking events and dinners throughout the week.

Thank you to the International Franchise Association and everyone who contributed to another exceptional .

American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) Coalition of Franchisee Associations ABA Forum on Franchising Franchise Times Magazine Litigation Counsel of America Restaurant Business Super Lawyers Best Lawyers Sabrina Zarco Egozi Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers-MDFAWL ABA Litigation Section Haute Lawyer

05/18/2026

The “Item 19” Reality Check: What the Numbers Don’t Tell You

You’ve done your research on the franchise opportunity you’re interested in. The brand itself seems to check out. The territory you’ve been offered looks promising. So, you open the (FDD) and flip straight to the Item 19 numbers.

There are lots of revenue figures and maybe a breakdown by quartile. You feel you have enough data to at least start building a .

Slow down. Read this article first.

On Building Your Around Item 19 Numbers

Before you build a business plan around those numbers you see on the Item 19 portion of the , you need to understand something important. Item 19 is one of the most misunderstood documents in all of .

Now, a can confirm that it’s legally compliant. What they can’t do is tell you whether those numbers make sense for you in your unique situation.

That’s a different conversation entirely.

What Item 19 Actually Is:

The , or , is an optional disclosure that franchisors can include in their FDD. Not all provide one. When they do, the format varies widely.

For instance, some franchisors show gross sales, while others show net income. Some break data down by quartile. Others present a single average figure and call it a day.

That being said, here’s what the law requires: the data must be accurate, substantiated, and presented without material omission. Your attorney will verify that the numbers in Item 19 are legally defensible.

But legal compliance and business viability are two entirely different things.

You've done your research on the franchise opportunity you’re interested in. The brand itself seems to check out. The territory you’ve been offered looks promising. So, you open the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and flip straight to the Item 19 numbers. There are lots of revenue figures an...

05/12/2026

‘Partner Selected as Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)’

Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A. proudly announces that Robert M. Einhorn has been selected as a of the prestigious Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) — an invitation-only honorary society recognizing exceptional trial and appellate lawyers throughout the United States.

Membership in the is limited to less than one-half of one percent of American attorneys nationwide and is reserved for accomplished litigators with distinguished careers, strong ethical reputations, and significant contributions to the legal profession.

For more than three decades, Einhorn has represented business owners, franchisees, franchisee associations, and multi-unit operators in complex litigation, arbitration, and high-stakes business disputes throughout the United States and internationally. Widely respected within franchise law circles, he has handled matters involving many of the nation’s leading restaurant, hotel, retail, and service franchise systems.

As Co-Managing Partner of Zarco Einhorn Salkowski, P.A., Bob brings clients a unique combination of litigation strategy, trial experience, and financial insight as both an attorney and certified public accountant. Since joining forces with in 1994, he has helped build one of the nation’s leading franchise litigation firms, representing clients in state and federal courts nationwide, arbitration and mediation forums across the country.

Einhorn has dedicated substantial time to advancing fairness in franchising on behalf of franchisees. He serves as a regular speaker at the American Bar Association ( ) Annual Forum on Franchising, the International Franchise Association ( ) Legal Symposium, and the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers ( ) Franchisee Leadership Summit. In addition, he has contributed extensively to respected legal publications, including the American Bar Association's Franchise Law Journal, Fundamentals of Franchising, and the Franchise Litigation Handbook.

Throughout his distinguished career, Bob Einhorn has earned yearly recognition from Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers®, Chambers USA, Franchise Times ‘Legal Eagles Hall of Fame’, and Martindale-Hubbell's ‘AV Pre-Eminent’ Rating, among many others for his excellence in franchise law and complex commercial litigation. He was named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ by Best Lawyers in America® in Franchise Law in both 2012 and 2017. In 2023, he received one of the ‘Top 50 Bench Awards’ in the United States, further recognizing his reputation as a highly respected trial lawyer. In 2025, the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers (AAFD) honored Robert with its prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award in Total Quality Franchising’ for his decades of advocacy on behalf of franchisees and fair franchising practices nationwide.

Please join us in congratulating Robert Einhorn on this well-deserved recognition and outstanding achievement.

Learn more about Robert M. Einhorn’s distinguished background and experience:
https://www.zarcolaw.com/attorney/einhorn-robert-m/

Coalition of Franchisee Associations American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) ABA Forum on Franchising Franchise Times Magazine International Franchise Association Restaurant Business Super Lawyers Best Lawyers

05/10/2026

🌷Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms and mother figures out there!

Thank you for all the love, support, strength, patience, and countless sacrifices you give every single day. 🙏

With great appreciation, we wish all moms a beautiful day filled with love, laughter, and special moments with family and friends. 💕