If it all sounds like a battle to obtain information out of reluctant adversaries do not despair. You have an ally in the International Franchise Association (IFA)which imposes a minimum disclosure standard on those franchisors, which have agreed to comply with its Code of Practice.

In the interests of fair dealing, IFA requires its registered franchisors to obtain signed statements from potential franchisees that they have in fact received and read the franchiser's U.F.O.C. (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular) at least 10 days before the signing of a Franchise Agreement.
 
Franchisees must also receive and read:

• A franchising publication approved by the association; and
• A copy of the Code of Practice.

IFA also imposes on its registered franchisors a requirement that a  U.F.O.C. (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular) Franchise Agreement should not be signed until the franchisor has received from the franchisee a statement from an attorney certifying that the attorney has explained the U.F.O.C. /Franchise Agreement to the franchisee. Alternatively, the franchisee is required to sign a statement that the agreement has been explained by an attorney.

After the signing of the  U.F.O.C. (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular) Franchise Agreement, you have a seven-day "cooling off" period during which you may withdraw from the agreement. Withdrawing may incur a financial penalty; this should be clearly stated in the agreement.

There is a possibility that you will be dealing with a franchisor that is not a signatory to IFA's Code of Practice. Awareness of the range of information IFA requires its registered franchisors to disclose will help you in dealing with non-registered franchisers.

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