<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="14-115" title_number="14" title_name="Business Opportunities, Franchises, and Multilevel Distribution Companies" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Business Opportunities">
  <level label="a">
    <text>If a seller guarantees that a buyer will derive from a business opportunity income that will exceed the price paid for the business opportunity or represents that the seller will refund all or part of the price paid or repurchase the products, equipment, or supplies sold or leased by the seller if the buyer is not satisfied with the business opportunity, the seller shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>get a surety bond in favor of the State from a surety company authorized to do business in the State; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>establish a trust account in favor of the State with an insured bank or savings institution in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The amount of the bond or trust account shall be at least $50,000.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may bring an action against the bond or trust account to recover damages resulting from:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a violation of this subtitle; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the seller’s breach of the contract for the sale of a business opportunity.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The surety or trustee is liable only for actual damages up to the amount of the bond or trust account.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
