How to prepare for a franchise agreement review: a practical document workflow
A practical Australian workflow to version, compare and brief an adviser on franchise agreement and disclosure documents.
Reviewed by lm ·
Short answer: Before asking someone to review a franchise agreement, assemble the complete current agreement and schedules, the matching disclosure document, related site and finance documents, a timeline of delivery and decisions, and a short list of your priorities. This lets the adviser focus on real commercial choices rather than hunting for missing pages. This workflow is general information, not a contract review or legal advice.
What does a review-ready folder look like?
| Folder | Keep | Why it matters |
|---|
| 01 — Issued documents | Original agreement, all schedules, disclosure document, financial attachments and information statement, with delivery records. | Identifies the exact terms and version you were asked to consider. |
| 02 — Commercial context | Offer, site/lease materials, finance conditions, budget and any supply or fit-out proposal. | Lets the reviewer connect contract obligations to the deal economics. |
| 03 — Questions and changes | One issue log: clause or document reference, business impact, question, response and owner. | Prevents an oral answer or changed draft from being mistaken for an agreed term. |
| 04 — Advice and decisions | Adviser instructions, marked-up versions and final decision record with restricted access. | Maintains a clear audit trail; protect confidential and privileged material appropriately. |
How should you brief a lawyer or accountant?
Send an index of files and identify what you want decided: for example, whether exit costs are affordable, whether a site arrangement matches the operating plan, or how supply restrictions affect margins. Ask the lawyer to identify clauses requiring negotiation and the accountant to test the numbers. Keep their roles distinct. Do not upload another party's confidential materials into a tool without checking the relevant permissions and privacy obligations.
Where do timing and versions fit?
Record when each document arrived and whether a later file replaced it. The ACCC says prospective franchisees must receive disclosure at least 14 days before signing; other information and document obligations may apply at different points. Do not calculate signing eligibility from a filename or a single receipt timestamp. Ask a qualified adviser to assess the actual sequence and any exceptions. [ACCC: information and document obligations; ACCC: disclosure document]
Frequently asked questions
Should I only send the agreement for review?
No. At minimum ask your adviser which disclosure, schedules and connected transaction documents they need. The agreement can make little commercial sense without them.
What if the franchisor sends a revised draft?
Save both versions, mark what changed and confirm whether earlier answers still apply. Ask your lawyer to assess whether the revision changes any applicable disclosure or timing requirements; do not assume a document name settles that question.
Next step: Speak with Awelle about document workflows if you need to organise preliminary document work. A specialist franchise lawyer must advise on the legal effect of the agreement.