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Expanding a franchise into Romania: legal framework and first steps
This page provides general information on the legal framework for franchising in Romania. ARF does not search for franchisees or investors, does not act as a broker or agent, and does not provide individual legal, tax or commercial advice. For a specific situation, consult a lawyer qualified in Romanian law.
Franchising in Romania is governed by Government Ordinance no. 52/1997, as amended by Law no. 179/2019. This page summarises the main legal points a franchisor should know before entering the Romanian market and links to the official texts.
Key points
- Franchising in Romania is governed by Government Ordinance no. 52/1997.
- In the pre-contractual phase, the franchisor must provide information to the future franchisee and a disclosure document to the potential franchisee (Government Ordinance no. 52/1997, art. 2(2)–(3)).
- Before launching its network, the franchisor must have operated the business concept effectively for at least one year in at least one pilot unit.
- Under Law no. 179/2019, franchisors may register their disclosure document in the National Franchise Register, on request and free of charge.
- ARF provides general information only; it does not broker franchise deals or give individual advice.
The legal framework
The basic act is Government Ordinance no. 52/1997 on the legal regime of franchising. Law no. 179/2019 amended it and provided for the National Franchise Register.
The legal definition of a franchisor
As amended by Law no. 179/2019, the Ordinance defines the franchisor as a professional who meets several criteria, including holding rights over a registered trademark or any other intellectual or industrial property right and demonstrating, in a pilot unit, the practical application of the knowledge it holds.
Pre-contractual information
In the pre-contractual phase, Romanian law requires the franchisor to provide the future franchisee with information that allows it to take part in the performance of the franchise contract on a fully informed basis. The franchisor must also provide the potential franchisee with a disclosure document containing specific information, including information on the pilot unit.
The pilot-unit requirement
Before the launch of its franchise network, the franchisor must operate a business concept effectively for a period of at least one year in at least one pilot unit (Government Ordinance no. 52/1997, art. 2(4)).
Registering in the National Franchise Register
Under Law no. 179/2019 (art. III), franchisors may register their disclosure document in the National Franchise Register, managed by ARF, on request and free of charge. The content and administration of the register are set by Order no. 1478/2019; this page does not assess the situation of any particular franchisor. Registration is a transparency instrument, not an authorisation, a certification of a franchise or an investment recommendation.
Where to register
The register is available at rnf.ro.
Contracts with international elements
Questions such as the law applicable to the contract, jurisdiction and language depend on the specific agreement and should be reviewed with a lawyer qualified in Romanian law. ARF does not provide individual legal advice.
Further reading (in Romanian):
How ARF can and cannot help
- ARF publishes general information on franchising in Romania.
- ARF is open to institutional dialogue with franchisors considering the Romanian market.
- ARF does not search for franchisees, investors or partners, does not broker franchise deals and does not provide individual legal, tax or commercial advice. No funding, commercial success or access to partners is promised.
Official sources
- Law no. 179/2019 — Romanian Legislative Portal
- Government Ordinance no. 52/1997 (consolidated form) — Romanian Legislative Portal
- Order no. 1478/2019 — Romanian Legislative Portal
- National Franchise Register — rnf.ro
Legal information last reviewed: 2026-10-21.
General information only; not legal advice.