Talk through a franchise restructure before you roll it out

This session is aimed at a proposed change to an existing franchise setup, rather than broad franchise support across every part of the network. We can discuss issues such as changing fee models, adjusting control mechanisms, updating brand rules, shifting responsibilities between parties, or reworking how the arrangement is documented. We will usually review the structure you have now and the change you want to make, then talk through the main legal risks, pressure points and sensible next steps. It is a one-off advice service, not ongoing project management.

This consultation is commonly useful for franchisors planning growth, consolidation or operational changes, and for franchisees who have been asked to move into a revised structure and want legal input before agreeing. It can also help where a business is changing how fees are charged, how brand standards are enforced, or how control sits across locations. If the restructure affects multiple documents or several parties at once, the consultation can help identify whether a larger piece of legal work is likely to be needed next.

Broader work is often needed where the restructure affects several documents at once or changes the commercial balance of the franchise relationship. For example, if you are altering fees, tightening operational control, changing brand use rights, or moving responsibilities between entities, you may need more than a single advice session. Related documents might need to be updated so they are consistent with the new arrangement. This consultation helps identify those gaps early, but it is not a substitute for full document drafting, network-wide rollout support, or ongoing representation.

Yes. The legal questions can overlap, but the focus of the advice will differ depending on your role. A franchisor may want to understand how to implement structural change while preserving brand control and commercial flexibility. A franchisee may want to understand whether a proposed restructure shifts fees, obligations or operational control in a way that changes the deal materially. In either case, the consultation is aimed at the specific restructure issue you want assessed, rather than general franchising support across unrelated matters.

After the consultation, you should have a clearer view of the legal issues raised by the restructure and what work, if any, should happen next. In some cases, the next step may be updating franchise documents, revising an IP licence, or checking whether disclosure materials and operational documents still line up with the new model. In other cases, the advice may be that the proposed change creates avoidable risk and should be narrowed or documented differently. If broader implementation work is needed, we can outline separate options.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Franchise Restructure Advice service, pricing starts from $200.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.