Wash. Rev. Code » Title 19 · Chapter 19.100
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 19.100.020 (2026)

Unlawful in certain instances to sell or offer to sell franchise if unregistered or not exempt

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) It is unlawful for any franchisor or subfranchisor to sell or offer to sell any franchise in this state unless the offer of the franchise has been registered under this chapter or exempted under RCW 19.100.030.
(2) For the purpose of this section, an offer to sell a franchise is made in this state when: (a) The offer is directed by the offeror into this state from within or outside this state and is received where it is directed, (b) the offer originates from this state and violates the franchise or business opportunity law of the state or foreign jurisdiction into which it is directed, (c) the prospective franchisee is a resident of this state, or (d) the franchise business that is the subject of the offer is to be located or operated, wholly or partly, in this state.
(3) For the purpose of this section, a sale of any franchise is made in this state when: (a) An offer to sell is accepted in this state, (b) an offer originating from this state is accepted and violates the franchise or business opportunity law of the state or foreign jurisdiction in which it is accepted, (c) the purchaser of the franchise is a resident of this state, or (d) the franchise business that is the subject of the sale is to be located or operated, wholly or partly, in this state.
(4) For the purpose of this section, an offer to sell is not made in this state solely because the offer appears: (a) In a newspaper or other publication of general and regular circulation if the publication has had more than two-thirds of its circulation outside this state during the twelve months before the offer is published, or (b) in a broadcast or transmission originating outside this state.
[ 2012 c 121 s 2; 1991 c 226 s 2; 1971 ex.s. c 252 s 2.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1979–2024 · leading case: Allison v. Medicab Int'l, Inc., 597 P.2d 380 (Wash. 1979).
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Allison v. Medicab Int'l, Inc., 597 P.2d 380 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 6× “100, it is unlawful for any franchisor or subfranchisor to sell or offer to sell any franchise in this state unless the offer of the franchise has been registered (RCW 19.100.020) or is exempt from regulation.”
Taylor v. 1-800-Got-Junk?, LLC, 632 F. Supp. 2d 1048 (W.D. Wash. 2009). · cites it 8× “” Wash. Rev. Code §§ 19.100.020 , 19.100.070.”
Lobdell v. Sugar 'N Spice, Inc., 658 P.2d 1267 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 3× “RCW 19.100.020, .040; Chisum, at 358-59. The defendants do not challenge the trial court's finding that neither they nor their offers were registered.”
Morris v. Int'l Yogurt Co., 729 P.2d 33 (Wash. 1986). · cites it 2× “RCW 19.100.020, .040, .170. See also Chisum, 48 Wash.”
Red Lion Hotels Franchising, Inc. v. MAK, LLC, 663 F.3d 1080 (9th Cir. 2011). “See Wash. Rev. Code § 19.100.020 (2) (“For the purposes of this section, an offer to sell a franchise is made in this state when: (a) The offer is directed by the offeror into this state from within or outside this state and is received where it is directed, (b) the offer…”
Carlock v. Pillsbury Co., 719 F. Supp. 791 (D. Minnesota 1989). “Code §§ 31110, 31111(h), 31125; Wash. Rev.Code §§ 19.100.020, 19.100.040(8).”
JM Vidal, Inc. v. Texdis USA, Inc., 764 F. Supp. 2d 599 (S.D.N.Y. 2011). “Claims Arising Under WFIPA Sections 20, 40, 80 and 180(2)(g) Are Time-Barred JMV claims that Texdis violated the WFIPA by (1) soliciting the sale of a franchise before being registered with the State of Washington, in violation of WFI-PA section 20, see Wash. Rev.Code §…”
Huebner v. Sales Promotion, Inc., 684 P.2d 752 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). “RCW 19.100.020. RCW 19.100.190 provides in part: (2) Any person who sells or offers to sell a franchise in violation of this chapter shall be liable to the franchisee or subfranchisor who may sue at law or in equity for damages caused thereby for rescission or other relief as…”
Something Sweet, LLC v. Nick-N-Willy's Franchise Co., 237 P.3d 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “6 Based on its plain language, RCW 19.100.020 does not prohibit a subfranchisor from selling or offering to sell a franchise if the offer of the franchise has already been properly registered.”
Nelson v. Nat'l Fund Raising Consultants, Inc., 823 P.2d 1165 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “The trial court found that the relationship between NFRCI and the Nelsons was a franchise not exempt from registration under Washington law; the transaction was therefore the unlawful sale of an unregistered franchise by DeShazer and NFRCI in violation of RCW 19.100.020; the…”
JTH Tax LLC v. McHugh (W.D. Wash. 2020). · cites it 3× “” RCW 19.100.020(1) states “[i]t is unlawful for any franchisor or subfranchisor 4 to sell or offer to sell any franchise in this state unless the offer of the franchise has been 5 registered under this chapter or exempted under RCW 19.”
Red Lion Hotels Franchising, Inc. v. MAK, LLC, 707 F. Supp. 2d 1110 (E.D. Wash. 2010). · cites it 4× “To support its assertion that FIPA has territorial limits, Red Lion relies on RCW 19.100.020. That section proscribes selling or offering for sale an unregistered franchise in the state.”
Show all 16 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.100.020(1) — 4 cases
Something Sweet, LLC v. Nick-N-Willy's Franchise Co., 237 P.3d 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). “6 Based on its plain language, RCW 19.100.020 does not prohibit a subfranchisor from selling or offering to sell a franchise if the offer of the franchise has already been properly registered.”
JTH Tax LLC v. McHugh (W.D. Wash. 2020). “” RCW 19.100.020(1) states “[i]t is unlawful for any franchisor or subfranchisor 4 to sell or offer to sell any franchise in this state unless the offer of the franchise has been 5 registered under this chapter or exempted under RCW 19.”
Permobil, Inc. v. Westphal (M.D. Tenn. 2024).
Something Sweet v. Nick-N-Willy's Franchise, 237 P.3d 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
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