Section 30. Registration application; documents to file; interim financial statements

A. An application for registration of a franchise is made by filing with the commission the following completed forms and other material:

1. Uniform Franchise Registration Application page, Form A;

2. Total Costs and Sources of Funds for Establishing New Franchises, Form B;

3. Uniform Consent to Service of Process, Form C;

4. If the applicant is a corporation or partnership, an authorizing resolution if the application is verified by a person other than applicant's officer or general partner;

5. Franchise Disclosure Document;

6. Application fee (payable to the "Treasurer of Virginia"); and

7. Auditor's consent (or a photocopy of the consent) to the use of the latest audited financial statements in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

B. An application for registration shall contain:

1. One copy of a complete franchise registration application, including the Franchise Disclosure Document, on paper;

2. One copy of a complete franchise registration application, including the Franchise Disclosure Document, on a CD-ROM in PDF format or on other electronic media approved by the Division of Securities and Retail Franchising; and

3. A cover letter containing a representation that all of the information contained in the electronic file is identical to the paper documents.

C. If the commission's review of the application results in any revision to the documents submitted, the franchisor shall file a complete clean copy of the revised Franchise Disclosure Document and any other revised documents, and a black-lined copy of all revised pages, unless the commission directs otherwise. In addition to filing the complete clean Franchise Disclosure Document and black-lined pages on paper, a franchisor shall include copies on a CD-ROM in PDF format or on other electronic media approved by the Division of Securities and Retail Franchising. The revised electronic file shall be accompanied by a transmittal letter as described in subdivision B 3 of this section.

D. The electronic version of the Franchise Disclosure Document shall be text searchable.

E. If the date of the most recent audited financial statements in the Franchise Disclosure Document precedes the date of the application by more than 120 days, the Franchise Disclosure Document shall also include the following financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles:

1. An unaudited interim balance sheet as of a date within 120 days of the date of the application; and

2. An unaudited interim statement of income or operations for the period from the most recent audited financial statements to the date of the interim balance sheet.

F. The certifications made by or on behalf of the franchisor in Form A shall extend and apply to all documents and materials filed in connection with the registration application, including any documents or materials submitted to the commission subsequent to the initial filing that may be required to complete the registration application.

Historical Notes

Derived from Case No. SEC950020 § 3, eff. July 1, 1995; amended, Volume 15, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 1999; Volume 24, Issue 21, eff. July 1, 2008; Volume 26, Issue 21, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 29, Issue 14; eff. March 1, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§§ 12.1-13 and 13.1-572 of the Code of Virginia.