{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/13.1-561.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/13.1-561.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/13.1-561.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/13.1-561.html"}],"law_id":81742,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81742,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561","catch_line":"Procedure for registration; bond; renewal; fee","history":"1972, c. 561; 1978, c. 670; 1991, c. 475; 1992, c. 158; 2007, c. 668.","full_text":"A\n\nA franchise may be registered after filing with the Commission an application containing such relevant information as the Commission may require. The franchise shall be registered if the Commission finds that the franchisor, including any controlling person of the franchisor, is a person of good character and reputation and that all information required of the applicant by the Commission has been supplied, that none of the grounds for revocation enumerated in § 13.1-562 are applicable to the franchise, and that the required fee has been paid.B\n\nThe Commission may require, as a condition of registration or renewal of registration: (i) the escrow or deferral of franchise fees and other funds paid by the franchisee to the franchisor until the franchisor’s preopening obligations are fulfilled, if the grounds enumerated in clause (i) of subdivision A 2 of § 13.1-562 exist, or (ii) the filing by a franchisor of a surety bond conditioned upon the payment of all criminal and civil penalties provided in this chapter in an amount determined by the Commission to be adequate to protect the public and all franchisees of the franchisor, taking into proper account the marketing plan or system to be franchised, the goods or services to be offered, whether or not the franchisor has a regular place of business in this Commonwealth, and any other facts indicating the necessary amount of the bond.C\n\nThe Commission shall by rule or order prescribe the procedures for filing an application for exemption, amendments to the exemption, and when an exemption or renewal becomes effective.D\n\nAll registrations, exemptions and renewals thereof shall expire at midnight on the annual date of their effectiveness. However, the Commission may extend such expiration of an exemption as much as 45 days.E\n\nEach application for the registration or exemption of a franchise shall be accompanied by a fee of $500, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Each application for the renewal of a franchise registration or exemption, including any amendments to the registration or exemption application which accompany or are part of the application for renewal, shall be accompanied by a fee of $250 payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Unless submitted in connection with an application for renewal, each amendment or group of amendments to a registration or exemption application submitted after the application has been granted shall be accompanied by a fee of $100, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. If the application for registration, exemption or renewal is withdrawn or is not granted, or if the registration or exemption application is not amended, the fee shall not be returnable.F\n\nFor the purposes of registration, exemption or renewal of registration of a franchise, a partnership shall be treated as the same partnership so long as two or more members of the partnership named in the application continue the business without change of location, and if the partnership, within one month after a change in the partnership, files with the Commission a copy of a certificate filed in compliance with § 50-74.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":292817,"text":"A franchise may be registered after filing with the Commission an application containing such relevant information as the Commission may require. The franchise shall be registered if the Commission finds that the franchisor, including any controlling person of the franchisor, is a person of good character and reputation and that all information required of the applicant by the Commission has been supplied, that none of the grounds for revocation enumerated in § 13.1-562 are applicable to the franchise, and that the required fee has been paid.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":292818,"text":"The Commission may require, as a condition of registration or renewal of registration: (i) the escrow or deferral of franchise fees and other funds paid by the franchisee to the franchisor until the franchisor’s preopening obligations are fulfilled, if the grounds enumerated in clause (i) of subdivision A 2 of § 13.1-562 exist, or (ii) the filing by a franchisor of a surety bond conditioned upon the payment of all criminal and civil penalties provided in this chapter in an amount determined by the Commission to be adequate to protect the public and all franchisees of the franchisor, taking into proper account the marketing plan or system to be franchised, the goods or services to be offered, whether or not the franchisor has a regular place of business in this Commonwealth, and any other facts indicating the necessary amount of the bond.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":292819,"text":"The Commission shall by rule or order prescribe the procedures for filing an application for exemption, amendments to the exemption, and when an exemption or renewal becomes effective.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":292820,"text":"All registrations, exemptions and renewals thereof shall expire at midnight on the annual date of their effectiveness. However, the Commission may extend such expiration of an exemption as much as 45 days.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":292821,"text":"Each application for the registration or exemption of a franchise shall be accompanied by a fee of $500, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Each application for the renewal of a franchise registration or exemption, including any amendments to the registration or exemption application which accompany or are part of the application for renewal, shall be accompanied by a fee of $250 payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Unless submitted in connection with an application for renewal, each amendment or group of amendments to a registration or exemption application submitted after the application has been granted shall be accompanied by a fee of $100, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. If the application for registration, exemption or renewal is withdrawn or is not granted, or if the registration or exemption application is not amended, the fee shall not be returnable.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":292822,"text":"For the purposes of registration, exemption or renewal of registration of a franchise, a partnership shall be treated as the same partnership so long as two or more members of the partnership named in the application continue the business without change of location, and if the partnership, within one month after a change in the partnership, files with the Commission a copy of a certificate filed in compliance with § 50-74.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15323,"edition_id":1,"name":"Retail Franchising Act","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12744,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:58","permalink":{"id":150081,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15323,"identifier":"8","token":"13.1\/8","url":"\/13.1\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12744,"edition_id":1,"name":"Corporations","identifier":"13.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":147493,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12744,"identifier":"13.1","token":"13.1","url":"\/13.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73586,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-557","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/13.1-557\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-557","metadata":false},{"id":61843,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-558","catch_line":"Policy of the Commonwealth","url":"\/13.1-558\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-558","metadata":false},{"id":74631,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-559","catch_line":"Definitions; applicability of chapter","url":"\/13.1-559\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-559","metadata":false},{"id":82599,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-560","catch_line":"Registration required","url":"\/13.1-560\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-560","metadata":false},{"id":81742,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561","catch_line":"Procedure for registration; bond; renewal; fee","url":"\/13.1-561\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561","metadata":false},{"id":73116,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561.1","catch_line":"Fees to cover expense of regulation","url":"\/13.1-561.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561.1","metadata":false},{"id":73535,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-562","catch_line":"Revocation of or refusal to renew registration","url":"\/13.1-562\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-562","metadata":false},{"id":87113,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-563","catch_line":"Unlawful offers","url":"\/13.1-563\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-563","metadata":false},{"id":59406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-564","catch_line":"Unlawful cancellation of franchise; undue influence","url":"\/13.1-564\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-564","metadata":false},{"id":73406,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-565","catch_line":"Voidable franchises","url":"\/13.1-565\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-565","metadata":false},{"id":86515,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-566","catch_line":"Service of process on nonresident franchisor","url":"\/13.1-566\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-566","metadata":false},{"id":83647,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-567","catch_line":"Investigations; confidentiality of information and documents","url":"\/13.1-567\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-567","metadata":false},{"id":58344,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-568","catch_line":"Injunctions","url":"\/13.1-568\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-568","metadata":false},{"id":79184,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569","catch_line":"Crimes","url":"\/13.1-569\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569","metadata":false},{"id":61728,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-569.1","catch_line":"Commission may transmit record or complaint to locality where violation occurred","url":"\/13.1-569.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-569.1","metadata":false},{"id":73285,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-570","catch_line":"Violations punishable by Commission","url":"\/13.1-570\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-570","metadata":false},{"id":76507,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-571","catch_line":"Civil remedies","url":"\/13.1-571\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-571","metadata":false},{"id":63100,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-572","catch_line":"Rules and forms","url":"\/13.1-572\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-572","metadata":false},{"id":72781,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-573","catch_line":"Certain records of Commission available to public; admissibility of copies; destruction","url":"\/13.1-573\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-573","metadata":false},{"id":70040,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-574","catch_line":"Effective date","url":"\/13.1-574\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-574","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82599,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-560","catch_line":"Registration required","url":"\/13.1-560\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-560","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":73116,"structure_id":15323,"section_number":"13.1-561.1","catch_line":"Fees to cover expense of regulation","url":"\/13.1-561.1\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/13.1-561\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1972. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 561 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1972 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 670; in 1991, chapter 475; in 1992, chapter 158; in 2007, chapter 668<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":73535,"section_number":"13.1-562","catch_line":"Revocation of or refusal to renew registration","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-562\/"},{"id":71193,"section_number":"50-74","catch_line":"Repealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/50-74\/"}],"permalink":{"id":150099,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81742,"identifier":"13.1-561","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561","url":"\/13.1-561\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/13.1-561\/","token":"13.1\/8\/13.1-561","dublin_core":{"Title":"Procedure for registration; bond; renewal; fee","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 13.1-561","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A franchise may be registered after filing with the Commission an application containing such relevant information as the Commission may require. The franchise shall be registered if the Commission finds that the franchisor, including any controlling person of the franchisor, is a person of good character and reputation and that all information required of the applicant by the Commission has been supplied, that none of the grounds for revocation<\/span> enumerated in § 13.1-562<\/a> are applicable to the franchise, and that the required fee has been paid. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Commission may require, as a condition of registration or renewal of registration: (i) the escrow or deferral of franchise fees and other funds paid by the franchisee to the franchisor until the franchisor’s preopening obligations are fulfilled, if the grounds enumerated in clause (i) of subdivision A 2 of § 13.1-562<\/a> exist, or (ii) the filing by a franchisor of a surety<\/span> bond<\/span> conditioned upon the payment of all criminal and civil penalties provided in this chapter in an amount determined by the Commission to be adequate to protect the public and all franchisees of the franchisor, taking into proper account the marketing plan or system to be franchised, the goods or services to be offered, whether or not the franchisor has a regular place of business in this Commonwealth, and any other facts<\/span> indicating the necessary amount of the bond<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Commission shall by rule or order<\/span> prescribe the procedures for filing an application for exemption, amendments to the exemption, and when an exemption or renewal becomes effective. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> All registrations, exemptions and renewals thereof shall expire at midnight on the annual date of their effectiveness. However, the Commission may extend such expiration of an exemption as much as 45 days. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Each application for the registration or exemption of a franchise shall be accompanied by a fee of $500, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Each application for the renewal of a franchise registration or exemption, including any amendments to the registration or exemption application which accompany or are part of the application for renewal, shall be accompanied by a fee of $250 payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Unless submitted in connection with an application for renewal, each amendment or group of amendments to a registration or exemption application submitted after the application has been granted shall be accompanied by a fee of $100, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. If the application for registration, exemption or renewal is withdrawn or is not granted, or if the registration or exemption application is not amended, the fee shall not be returnable. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> For the purposes of registration, exemption or renewal of registration of a franchise, a partnership shall be treated as the same partnership so long as two or more members of the partnership named in the application continue the business without change of location, and if the partnership, within one month after a change in the partnership, files with the Commission a copy of a certificate filed in compliance with § 50-74<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION; BOND; RENEWAL; FEE (\u00a7 13.1-561)\n\nA. A franchise may be registered after filing with the Commission an application\ncontaining such relevant information as the Commission may require. The\nfranchise shall be registered if the Commission finds that the franchisor,\nincluding any controlling person of the franchisor, is a person of good\ncharacter and reputation and that all information required of the applicant by\nthe Commission has been supplied, that none of the grounds for revocation\nenumerated in § 13.1-562 are applicable to the franchise, and that the\nrequired fee has been paid.\n\nB. The Commission may require, as a condition of registration or renewal of\nregistration: (i) the escrow or deferral of franchise fees and other funds paid\nby the franchisee to the franchisor until the franchisor’s preopening\nobligations are fulfilled, if the grounds enumerated in clause (i) of\nsubdivision A 2 of § 13.1-562 exist, or (ii) the filing by a franchisor of\na surety bond conditioned upon the payment of all criminal and civil penalties\nprovided in this chapter in an amount determined by the Commission to be\nadequate to protect the public and all franchisees of the franchisor, taking\ninto proper account the marketing plan or system to be franchised, the goods or\nservices to be offered, whether or not the franchisor has a regular place of\nbusiness in this Commonwealth, and any other facts indicating the necessary\namount of the bond.\n\nC. The Commission shall by rule or order prescribe the procedures for filing an\napplication for exemption, amendments to the exemption, and when an exemption or\nrenewal becomes effective.\n\nD. All registrations, exemptions and renewals thereof shall expire at midnight\non the annual date of their effectiveness. However, the Commission may extend\nsuch expiration of an exemption as much as 45 days.\n\nE. Each application for the registration or exemption of a franchise shall be\naccompanied by a fee of $500, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Each\napplication for the renewal of a franchise registration or exemption, including\nany amendments to the registration or exemption application which accompany or\nare part of the application for renewal, shall be accompanied by a fee of $250\npayable to the Treasurer of Virginia. Unless submitted in connection with an\napplication for renewal, each amendment or group of amendments to a registration\nor exemption application submitted after the application has been granted shall\nbe accompanied by a fee of $100, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia. If the\napplication for registration, exemption or renewal is withdrawn or is not\ngranted, or if the registration or exemption application is not amended, the fee\nshall not be returnable.\n\nF. For the purposes of registration, exemption or renewal of registration of a\nfranchise, a partnership shall be treated as the same partnership so long as two\nor more members of the partnership named in the application continue the\nbusiness without change of location, and if the partnership, within one month\nafter a change in the partnership, files with the Commission a copy of a\ncertificate filed in compliance with § 50-74.\n\nHISTORY: 1972, c. 561; 1978, c. 670; 1991, c. 475; 1992, c. 158; 2007, c. 668.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}