I have had the pleasure of working with David Kornhauser for about 2 years now. My experience working with him has been fantastic. Always accessible and very knowledgeable, his work his of the highest quality and his customer service is exceptional. I would (and have) recommend David without any hesitation.

Alex Shtein
Director of Operations, BarBurrito Restaurants Inc.


Welcome to the Franchising Forum.

Franchising is one of the most common and successful business models in Canada. Currently, there are nearly 85,000 franchise businesses licensed to about 2,000 franchisors. In total, the industry sales are a total of approximately $100 billion, which is approximately 45 percent of the total retail spending in Canada. The prominence in Canadian society of the unique type of business relationship known as franchising is well supported by statistics.

The economic impact of the franchise industry is evidenced by job creation and franchise fees in addition to consumer spending. Over 1.5 million Canadians are employed by franchise businesses. Franchisees invest varying amounts, depending on the terms and type of business. The low end is typically an investment of between $10,000 and $15,000, while high end franchises may require an investment of several million dollars. The Canadian franchising industry is one of the largest in the world, second only to that of the United States.

One of the most beneficial and challenging aspects of franchising is the unique relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee. In many ways, the relationship between the franchisor and franchisee is very similar to that of common arm’s length transactions of independent businesses. However, the franchise relationship is made unique by the underlying foundation of interdependence between parties.

Franchising offers unique opportunities for both franchisors and franchisees; however, it is a complex and challenging legal environment for both parties. Understanding the complexities of this dynamic relationship is crucial for the franchisors and franchisees, as well as professional advisors who have been retained by either the franchisor or the franchisee. Those acting in a professional advisory capacity need a deep understanding of the obligations imposed on, and the rights afforded to, both franchisors and franchisees, as determined by the legal agreements and franchise documentation between the two parties, in accordance with applicable provincial laws and guidelines.

We provide a broad range of legal services for franchisors, individual franchisees, groups of franchisees and franchise associations. Our seasoned lawyers draw on many years of experience in franchise law, and a deep understanding of the complexities of the legal and business relationship created by the franchisor and franchisee, including the enforcement of the rights afforded to either party through either the court system or legal proceedings.

We have created this website for the purpose of providing insights of value to franchisors and franchisees regarding various aspects of these legal and business relationships. It is our hope that this website will be of value to you. We welcome and encourage all questions or feedback regarding our website or services. Please contact David Kornhauser by phone at 855-324-3944 or via e-mail at: david@franchsingforum.ca or dkornhauser@msmlaw.ca.

Featured Articles

Profiles / Bio
  • Rating: 5
    The Franchising Forum Reviewed by Alex ShteinDirector of Operations, BarBurrito Restaurants Inc.

    I have had the pleasure of working with David Kornhauser for about 2 years now. My experience working with him has been fantastic. Always accessible and very knowledgeable, his work his of the highest quality and his customer service is exceptional. I would (and have) recommend David without any hesitation.
  • Rating:
    Reviewed by Valerie and Dr. Ahmad Belfon

    We would like to thank you for the months and months of support, sound advice and hard work. You are a true credit to the franchising community and to your profession. We will never forget and always be grateful for your help.
  • Rating:
    Reviewed by Valerie and Dr. Ahmad Belfon

    We would like to thank you for assisting us with this closing. You have provided us with excellent legal counsel. Your diligence, attention and patience with us have gone above the call of duty. We are very fortunate to have a lawyer of your caliber, competence and responsiveness working for us. Thank you once again for all you have done.
Recent Radio Show

Quick Contact

Indicates Required *
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Indicates Required *