FDD & Franchise Agreement Review | Cloudhaus Law
FDD & franchise agreement review · 14-day window · National coverage

Don't sign that franchise agreement until Irbaz reads it first.

The FDD was written by the franchisor's lawyers to protect the franchisor. Before you sign or send a deposit, Irbaz Wahab reads every clause and tells you what you are committing to, and where the risk sits. Flat fee, agreed in writing before any work begins.

★★★★★ 5.0 across 35 verified Google reviews · Serving all provinces
70+
Franchise locations opened
100+
Franchise clients served
14-day
Disclosure window the law gives you
Is this you?

Built for franchise buyers, before they sign

Buying a franchise is one of the largest commitments you will make. Ninety seconds here tells you whether we are the right fit, before you book a call.

You're in the right place if
  • You have an FDD in hand and a franchisor is pushing you to sign
  • You want to know exactly what the agreement commits you to
  • You're weighing more than one franchise and want a second read
  • You want one flat price you can plan around, not a running meter
We're probably not your fit if
  • You're happy to sign the FDD without any legal review
  • You want the cheapest possible document check, not real advice
  • You expect a lawyer to promise how the deal turns out
  • You prefer a traditional hourly billing model and are comfortable with unpredictable legal costs

Sounds like your situation? Get a franchise lawyer's read on it, free.

Book My Free Consultation
You're not the first to feel this pressure

If any of this is keeping you up at night, you're in the right place

Most people who call aren't in trouble. They're about to make one of the biggest financial commitments of their life, and the paperwork was written entirely to protect the other side.

"What am I actually signing?"

The FDD is a brick of legalese

Royalties, territory, renewal, transfer, termination, personal guarantees. One buried clause can cost you far more than the legal fee, and the franchisor's lawyers wrote every word of it.

"They want me to sign now."

The clock is being used against you

Ontario law gives you at least 14 days with the complete FDD before you sign. If someone is rushing you past that, that alone is reason to get advice today.

"What's this going to cost me?"

You've heard the billing stories

Retainers, a meter running on every call, an invoice you can't predict, on top of the franchise investment. You want a number you can plan around before you commit a dollar.

You don't need a big firm that treats you like a file number. You need one franchise lawyer who reads every clause, tells you plainly what it means, and quotes a flat fee before doing the work.

What we handle

Franchise legal help, from first read to signing

A dedicated franchise practice built to protect buyers. Tap any area below to see what's covered.

Most urgent

FDD & franchise agreement review

We read your Franchise Disclosure Document clause by clause, tell you exactly what you're committing to, flag the highest-risk provisions, and negotiate where terms are unreasonable, before the money leaves your account.

Buying a franchise

One of the biggest commitments a family makes. We review the FDD and the franchise agreement together, check the commercial lease alongside them, and make sure you understand the whole deal before you're bound to it.

Selling a franchise

Selling a location or a system involves steps sellers rarely anticipate. We manage the documentation, review assignment provisions, confirm the franchisor's approval process, and work to protect your sale proceeds.

Commercial lease review

For most franchises the lease matters as much as the agreement itself. We review lease term against franchise term, demolition and relocation clauses, assignment rights, and what happens to the lease if the franchise ends.

Your rights under the Arthur Wishart Act

Ontario law gives franchisees real protections: the 14-day disclosure window, a duty of fair dealing, rescission rights for deficient disclosure, and the right to associate. We make sure you understand and keep every one of them.

Buying a U.S. or international brand

Considering a franchise from a foreign brand? A U.S.-style disclosure document does not meet Ontario's rules. Dual qualification in Canada and the U.S. means we catch the gaps a Canadian buyer needs to know about.

One flat fee. Agreed before we begin. That's the whole model.

We do the research upfront and quote you a fixed price for your matter, so you can tell your accountant, your partner, and yourself exactly what this costs, on top of the franchise investment you're already making. No retainer to get started. No meter running on every call. No invoice you didn't see coming.

No retainer required
No billable hours
Price fixed in writing
Free first consultation
Book My Free Consultation
Why franchise clients choose Cloudhaus

A franchise lawyer who answers, not a firm that makes you wait

Irbaz on your file, personally

The lawyer you speak with on the first call is the one who reviews your FDD and completes the file. No handoff to a junior or an account manager you've never met.

Built for signing deadlines

Franchise timelines and the 14-day window move fast. When your matter is time-sensitive we respond quickly, and clients repeatedly note the same-day, "always on top of it" turnaround.

70+ locations opened

Irbaz has personally helped open more than 70 franchise locations across the GTA, including work with brands such as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Strong Pilates. This isn't theory.

You'll always know what's happening

No guessing about the next step. You'll understand what you're signing and what comes next. Clients say it again and again: he explains it clearly and makes sure you understand before anything moves.

What clients say

Franchise owners trusted us with the call. Here's what they said after.

Verified Google reviews from franchise buyers and franchisors who put their most important decisions in Irbaz's hands.

★★★★★
"We used Cloudhaus for our Franchise Disclosure Document and Franchise Agreement review. Their team thoroughly reviewed the entire package and made sure we fully understood what we were signing. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing their franchise documents reviewed."
G
Gabriel Di Felice
Google
★★★★★
"Cloudhaus helped me with all my franchise needs. Irbaz helped draft the franchise disclosure document and coordinated with our U.S. head office to bring one of the biggest brands from the U.S. to Canada! I highly recommend using Irbaz as a lawyer!!"
M
Muhammad Faisal
Google
★★★★★
"Highly recommend Cloudhaus Law Professional Corporation for all Franchise Law issues. Mr. Irbaz was highly professional and knowledgable in his area of expertise and provided us with right advice and direction. He helped us with all the documentation and all the discussions with the opponent lawyer. He is very generous and works ethically."
S
Shringar Dhillon
Google
★★★★★
"Very diligent and detail oriented! Knowing Irbaz is on your team is a very reassuring feeling, he has his client's best interests at hand when dealing with legalities. Highly recommend, especially if you are in the business or franchise space."
K
Kadir Motiwala
Google
★★★★★ 5.0

35 verified Google reviews

Irbaz Wahab, founder and franchise lawyer at Cloudhaus Law
Irbaz Wahab Founder & Franchise Lawyer
Your lawyer

The lawyer who reads your FDD, personally

Irbaz Wahab leads a dedicated franchise practice at Cloudhaus Law. He has reviewed FDDs and franchise agreements for buyers across Canada, and he knows where the risks hide because he also builds these systems from the franchisor side.

  • Personally helped open 70+ franchise locations across the GTA, including work with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Strong Pilates
  • Dual-qualified in Canada and the United States, with direct experience bringing foreign brands into the Canadian market
  • A 5.0 Google rating across 35 reviews, with clients naming him personally
  • A flat-fee model on every engagement, the only way this firm bills
Book a free call with Irbaz
Before you call

Straight answers to what franchise buyers ask us most

Do I really need a lawyer to review an FDD before buying a franchise?
You're not legally required to, but the FDD is drafted by the franchisor's lawyers to protect the franchisor, not you. One unfair exit clause or a restricted territory provision can cost far more than the legal fee. We review the document clause by clause and explain exactly what you're committing to before the money leaves your account.
How long do I have to review an FDD in Ontario?
Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act gives you a minimum of 14 days after receiving the complete FDD before you can legally sign any franchise agreement or pay any money. It is a statutory protection and it cannot be waived. If a franchisor is pressuring you to sign before the 14 days expire, call us at (647) 965-0516 today.
Is the flat fee really all-in, or will extra charges appear later?
All-in for the scope we quote. We do the research upfront, agree the price in writing before starting, and don't run a meter on your calls or emails. If your matter genuinely grows in scope, we tell you and re-quote before doing anything, so you're never surprised by an invoice.
Can a franchise agreement actually be negotiated?
Often, yes. While some franchisors present agreements as non-negotiable, many provisions can be discussed, including territory definitions, exit rights, renewal conditions, and assignment terms. A lawyer who reviews franchise agreements regularly knows which terms franchisors tend to adjust and which they rarely do, so negotiation stays targeted and efficient.
Will I actually deal with Irbaz, or get passed to someone else?
You deal with Irbaz. The lawyer on your first call is the one who reviews your FDD and completes your file. That's why the firm's reviews name him personally.
Simple 4-step process

From FDD in hand to signed with confidence

From your first call to a decision you're sure of, here's exactly what to expect. No retainer, and no obligation after your free review.

Book your free review

Pick a time and tell Irbaz your situation. He assesses where you stand and what's at stake, at no charge and fully confidential.

Same day

Get your flat-fee quote

You receive a fixed price in writing before any work begins, with a clear plan and timeline. You decide with a real number in hand.

Within 24 hours

Irbaz gets to work

Your FDD and agreement reviewed clause by clause, and negotiated where terms are unreasonable, by the lawyer you spoke with, who keeps you updated so you never chase.

Deadline priority

Sign with confidence, or walk away informed

You know exactly what you're agreeing to before you commit, and you keep a franchise lawyer on call for the next renewal, transfer, or location.

Ongoing
Your next step

Book your free FDD review

Speak directly with Irbaz. You'll leave the call knowing where you stand, which clauses carry the most risk, and with a flat-fee quote in writing before any work begins. Free, confidential, no obligation.

Book My Free Consultation
Flat fee, no retainer Same-day response Confidential & privileged
Being pushed to sign before you're ready? The 14-day clock matters. Call (647) 965-0516 now.

Franchise legal counsel for buyers and franchisors across Canada. Flat fee. No retainer. One lawyer on your file.

Contact

(647) 965-0516 irbazwahab@cloudhauslaw.com
Suite 700, 225 East Beaver Creek Rd,
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4

Hours

Mon to Fri · 9 AM to 5 PM EST
Urgent matters · same-day response
Book a free consultation
© 2022–2026 Cloudhaus Law Professional Corporation. This page is for general information and marketing purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create a solicitor–client relationship. Every matter depends on its specific facts. Contacting Cloudhaus Law does not create a solicitor–client relationship until a written engagement is in place.
Book Free Consultation
Call Now (647) 965-0516