559.803  Disclosure statement.--At least 3 working days prior to the time the purchaser signs a business opportunity contract, or at least 3 working days prior to the receipt of any consideration by the seller, whichever occurs first, the seller must provide the prospective purchaser a written document, the cover sheet of which is entitled in at least 12-point boldfaced capital letters "DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY FLORIDA LAW." Under this title shall appear the following statement in at least 10-point type: "The State of Florida has not reviewed and does not approve, recommend, endorse, or sponsor any business opportunity. The information contained in this disclosure has not been verified by the state. If you have any questions about this investment, see an attorney before you sign a contract or agreement." Nothing except the title and required statement shall appear on the cover sheet. Immediately following the cover sheet, the seller must provide an index page that briefly lists the contents of the disclosure document as required in this section and any pages on which the prospective purchaser can find each required disclosure. At the top of the index page, the following statement must appear in at least 10-point type: "The State of Florida requires sellers of business opportunities to disclose certain information to prospective purchasers. This index is provided to help you locate this information." If the index contains other information not required by this section, the seller shall place a designation beside each of the disclosures required by this section and provide an explanation of the designation at the end of the statement at the top of the index page. The disclosure document shall contain the following information:

(1)  The name of the seller; whether the seller is doing business as an individual, partnership, corporation, or other business entity; the names under which the seller has done business; and the name of any parent or affiliated company that will engage in business transactions with the purchasers or who takes responsibility for statements made by the seller.

(2)  The names, addresses, and titles of the seller's officers, directors, trustees, general partners, general managers, and principal executives and of any other persons charged with the responsibility for the seller's business activities relating to the sale of business opportunities.

(3)  The length of time the seller has:

(a)  Sold business opportunities; or

(b)  Sold business opportunities involving the products, equipment, supplies, or services currently being offered to the purchaser.

(4)  A full and detailed description of the actual services that the business opportunity seller undertakes to perform for the purchaser.

(5)  A copy of a current (not older than 13 months) financial statement of the seller, updated to reflect material changes in the seller's financial condition.

(6)  If training is promised by the seller, a complete description of the training, the length of the training, and the cost or incidental expenses of that training, which cost or expense the purchaser will be required to incur.

(7)  If the seller promises services to be performed in connection with the placement of the equipment, product, or supplies at a location, the full nature of those services as well as the nature of the agreements to be made with the owners or managers of the location where the purchaser's equipment, product, or supplies will be placed.

(8)  If the business opportunity seller is required to secure a bond or establish a trust deposit pursuant to s. 559.807, either of the following statements:

(a)  "As required by Florida law, the seller has secured a bond issued by _____, a surety company authorized to do business in this state. Before signing a contract to purchase this business opportunity, you should confirm the bond's status with the surety company."; or

(b)  "As required by Florida law, the seller has established a trust account or guaranteed letter of credit  (number of account)  with  (name and address of bank or savings institution) . Before signing a contract to purchase this business opportunity, you should confirm with the bank or savings institution the current status of the trust account or guaranteed letter of credit."

(9)  The following statement: "If the seller fails to deliver the product, equipment, or supplies necessary to begin substantial operation of the business within 45 days of the delivery date stated in your contract, you may notify the seller in writing and cancel your contract."

(10)  If the seller makes any statement concerning sales or earnings or a range of sales or earnings that may be made through this business opportunity, a statement disclosing:

(a)  The total number of purchasers of business opportunities involving the product, equipment, supplies, or services being offered who have actually achieved sales of or received earnings in the amount or range specified within 3 years prior to the date of the disclosure statement.

(b)  The total number of purchasers of business opportunities involving the product, equipment, supplies, or services being offered within 3 years prior to the date of the disclosure statement.

(11)  A statement disclosing who, if any, of the persons listed in subsections (1) and (2):

(a)  Has, at any time during the previous 7 fiscal years, been convicted of a felony or pleaded nolo contendere to a felony charge if the felony involved fraud (including violation of any franchise or business opportunity law or unfair or deceptive practices law), embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of property, or restraint of trade.

(b)  Has, at any time during the previous 7 fiscal years, been held liable in a civil action resulting in a final judgment or has settled out of court any civil action or is a party to any civil action involving allegations of fraud (including violation of any franchise or business opportunity law or unfair or deceptive practices law), embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of property, or restraint of trade or any civil action which was brought by a present or former franchisee or franchisees and which involves or involved the franchise relationship. However, only material individual civil actions need be so listed pursuant to this paragraph, including any group of civil actions which, irrespective of the materiality of any single such action, in the aggregate is material.

(c)  Is subject to any currently effective state or federal agency or court injunctive or restrictive order, or has been subject to any administrative action in which an order by a governmental agency was rendered, or is a party to a proceeding currently pending in which such order is sought, relating to or affecting business opportunities activities or the business opportunity seller-purchaser relationship or involving fraud (including violation of any franchise or business opportunity law or unfair or deceptive practices law), embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, misappropriation of property, or restraint of trade.

Such statement shall set forth the identity and location of the court or agency; the date of conviction, judgment, or decision; the penalty imposed; the damages assessed; the terms of settlement or the terms of the order; and the date, nature, and issuer of each such order or ruling. A business opportunity seller may include a summary opinion of counsel as to any pending litigation, but only if counsel's consent to the use of such opinion is included in the disclosure statement.

(12)  A statement disclosing who, if any, of the persons listed in subsections (1) and (2) at any time during the previous 7 fiscal years has:

(a)  Filed in bankruptcy.

(b)  Been adjudged bankrupt.

(c)  Been reorganized due to insolvency.

(d)  Been a principal, director, executive officer, or partner of any other person that has so filed or was so adjudged or reorganized during or within 1 year after the period that such person held such position in relation to such other person. If so, the name and location of the person having so filed or having been so adjudged or reorganized, the date thereof, and any other material facts relating thereto shall be set forth.

(13)  A copy of the business opportunity contract which the seller uses as a matter of course and which is to be presented to the purchaser at closing.

Should any seller of business opportunities prepare a disclosure statement pursuant to 16 C.F.R. ss. 436.1 et seq., a Trade Regulation Rule of the Federal Trade Commission regarding Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising and Business Opportunity Ventures, the seller may file that disclosure statement in lieu of the document required pursuant to this section. Should the seller be required pursuant to 16 C.F.R. to prepare any other documents to be presented to the prospective purchaser, those documents shall also be filed with the department.