The California Franchise Investment Law (beginning at Section 31000 of the California Corporations Code) (CFIL) generally requires franchisors to register a franchise disclosure document with, and obtain approval by, the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (Department) before offering and selling franchises in California. Franchisors attending the Franchise Expo West must obtain approval of franchise registration from the Department prior to the Franchise Expo West to exhibit at the tradeshow. (There are limited exemptions under the CFIL. See Sections 31100 - 31109.1 of the CFIL.)
Applications must be received by the Department by no later than July 23, 2025, to be prioritized. For any applications received after that date, the Department may not be able to review and approve the application prior to the Franchise Expo West. Applications that are not complete or are materially deficient may not be prioritized and may not be approved prior to the Franchise Expo West.
To apply for franchise registration under the CFIL, review the detailed information on how to file on the Department’s website at Instructions on How to File a Complete Franchise Application | The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. List of ling requirements and examples are provided. Contact your legal counsel with questions.