Top Franchise Legal Players: Charles Internicola, Internicola Law Firm

• Honoree: Charles Internicola
• Role: Founding Partner, Internicola Law* Firm

Charles Internicola is the visionary founder of Internicola Law Firm and an accomplished attorney with over 25 years of experience. Renowned for his exceptional legal and national franchise development services, Internicola has earned the trust of successful entrepreneurs focused on growing their businesses and franchising their brands. His unique blend of legal expertise and practical experience, coupled with his background as a former franchisor, makes him uniquely qualified to provide strategic advisory services to franchisors nationwide.

Having rehabilitated and sold an emerging service-based brand to a large national company, Internicola has firsthand experience in the intricacies of franchising. He established FranX, a franchise sales and growth accelerator, to teach franchisors how to succeed. Internicola’s comprehensive services include franchise compliance representation, strategic advisory, and franchise growth strategy and planning. He has worked with franchisors of all sizes and industries, both nationally and internationally, helping them achieve their growth goals while navigating complex legal and regulatory requirements. Recognized as an industry leader and a sought-after speaker and author on franchise law, Internicola’s expertise and dedication make him a trusted advisor in the franchising world.

1851 Franchise reached out to Internicola to learn more about how franchisors can protect their brand and avoid legal mistakes. Check out his insights below.

1851 Franchise: What do you see as the most important things franchisors should do to protect their brand?

Charles Internicola: Protecting a franchise brand and system should be a proactive and progressive process where a system makes continuous improvements to their trademark protection, FDD [franchise disclosure document], franchise agreements, negotiated addendums, franchisee communications and processes for dealing with non-compliant franchisees. 

1851: How important is the information in Item 19?

Internicola: Item 19 and the information disclosed in Item 19 is critical to the franchise sales and compliance process. Franchisors should be focused on providing transparent data and KPIs that provide prospective franchisees with a realistic understanding of the unit economics and financial underpinnings of the franchise. Too many franchisors are missing out on the opportunity to differentiate their brand and sales process through a deeper dive KPI driven Item 19.

1851: What is the single largest legal mistake brands make?

Internicola: They fail to align their legal protection and compliance processes with their franchise sales strategies and processes. 

1851: How do you stand out as a franchise law firm?

Internicola: Beyond legal, our services and processes are built specifically for emerging brands and include strategic advisory support, planning, and advice.

1851: What is the best business advice you have received in your career?

Internicola: Leverage the lessons and knowledge of others that have succeeded and come before me.

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.