Termination of a Franchise Agreement

  • Termination of a Franchise Agreement

Franchise Termination & Non-Renewal Attorney in NJ

Defending Your Investment from Lakewood to Atlantic City

Receiving a notice of termination or non-renewal is the ultimate crisis for a franchisee. Whether the franchisor is ending the agreement mid-term or refusing to renew at the end of the contract, the result is the same: your business is at risk of closure. In New Jersey, however, you have powerful protections under the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act (NJFPA).

At Riviere Advocacy Group, we represent franchisees across Ocean and Atlantic Counties, including Lakewood, Toms River, Brick, Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic City, and Galloway. We move quickly to stop wrongful terminations and preserve your business value.

Understanding “Good Cause” in New Jersey

Unlike many other states, New Jersey law requires a franchisor to have “Good Cause” to terminate or refuse renewal. A franchisor cannot simply decide they want your territory back or impose unreasonable new royalties to force you out.

We help franchisees challenge terminations based on:

  • Failure to Cure: In most cases, you must be given a reasonable “cure period” to fix a default after receiving written notice.

  • Under-Reporting Allegations: We defend against claims of sales manipulation or royalty under-reporting.

  • Reputational Damage Claims: Challenging subjective claims that a franchisee has “tarnished the brand.”

  • Systemic Changes: Preventing “de facto” non-renewal where a franchisor imposes impossible new terms to force an exit.

Immediate Steps to Take

If you have received a notice of default or termination, proactive defense is mandatory. It is significantly easier—and cheaper—to keep your doors open through an injunction than it is to try and reopen a business once the franchisor has seized the assets.

We immediately open professional lines of communication with the franchisor’s legal team to address the alleged breaches and, if necessary, seek judicial relief to maintain the status quo.

Contact our NJ franchise termination lawyers today for an emergency consultation regarding your notice.