Research compiled by Liza Potter, Bowen Park and Meredith Russell
A good place to start looking for information on both franchises and business opportunities is the government office that regulates them. Although not every state law is the same, as a place to start, we have compiled contact information for offices that maintain some kind of information. Be sure to contact the office in the state where you wish to do business. You won't be able to make your buying decision based on the information provided, but you can get the basics.
B= Has laws regulating business opportunities
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F= Has laws regulating franchises
B ALABAMA
Attorney General's Office
Consumer Affairs
(334) 242-7320
B F CALIFORNIA
Department of Corporation
(415) 557-3787
B CONNECTICUT
Banking Securities & Business Department
Investment Division
(860) 240-8230
B FLORIDA
Consumer Services Division
(850) 922-2770
B GEORGIA
Consumer Affairs Office
(404) 656-3790
F HAWAII
Commerce & Consumer Affairs Department
(808) 586-2722
B F ILLINOIS
Secretary of State
Corporate Information
(217) 782-7880
B F INDIANA
Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
(317) 232-6330
B IOWA
Securities Bureau
Regulated Industries Unit
(515) 281-4441
B KENTUCKY
Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
(502) 696-5389
B LOUISIANA
Secretary of State
Commercial Division
(225) 922-0425
B MAINE
Business Regulations Department
Corporations, Elections & Commissions Bureau
(207) 287-3676
B F MARYLAND
Securities Division
Franchise & Business Opportunities Unit
(410) 576-6360
B F MICHIGAN
Consumer Protection Division
Antitrust & Franchise Section
(517) 373-7117
B F MINNESOTA
Commerce Department
Registration Division
(651) 296-6328
B NEBRASKA
Banking & Finance Department
(402) 471-3445
B NEW HAMPSHIRE
Attorney General's Office
Consumer Protection Bureau
(212) 416-8235
F NEW YORK
Investor Protection & Securities Bureau
(212) 416-8235
B NORTH CAROLINA
Secretary of State
Securities Division
(919) 733-3924
F NORTH DAKOTA
Security Commissioner's Office
Franchise Examiner
(701) 328-4712
B OHIO
Secretary of State
(614) 466-3910
B OKLAHOMA
Securities Department
(405) 280-7700
F RHODE ISLAND
Business Regulation Department
Securities Division
(401) 222-3048
B SOUTH CAROLINA
Secretary of State
(803) 734-1728 or (803) 734-1951
B F SOUTH DAKOTA
Commerce & Regulation Department
Consumer Protection Division (for opportunities less than $250)
(605) 773-4400
Securities Division (for opportunities more than $250)
(605) 773-4013
B TEXAS
Secretary of State
(512) 463-5555
B UTAH
Commerce Department
Consumer Protection Division
(801) 530-6601
B F VIRGINIA
Clerk of the State
Corporation Commission
(804) 371-9733
B F WASHINGTON
Financial Institutions Department
Securities Division
(360) 902-8760
F WISCONSIN
Financial Institutions Department
Securities Division
(608) 261-9555