Section 19-28.1-9 - General registration provisions(a) A registration application must include the disclosure document, the filing fee, and the consent to service of process. The director may require the filing of audited financial statements examined and reported upon by an independent certified public accountant and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and of additional documents or disclosures.(b) If the franchisor fails to demonstrate to the director the franchisor's financial ability to fulfill its initial obligations to franchisees, the director may require an escrow of funds paid by the franchisee or subfranchisor to the franchisor or its affiliate until the franchisor performs its initial obligations and the franchisee has commenced operations. The director may allow alternatives to escrow.(c)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c)(2), if no order under § 19-28.1-18 or § 19-28.1-19 is in effect, a franchise registration application is effective on the thirtieth business day after filing of the application of the last amendment to the application or at an earlier time ordered by the director unless the applicant requests postponement of effectiveness of the application or the director has made a good faith effort to communicate why the application does not meet the requirements of this act.(2) If the director requires the submission of additional information under § 19-28.1-9, 19-28.1-11 - 19-28.1-13, or 19-28.1-26 before the franchise registration application becomes effective under subsection (c)(1) and if no order under § 19-28.1-18 or § 19-28.1-19 is in effect, the application becomes effective on the fifteenth business day after the additional information is filed with the director, or at any earlier time the director determines, unless the applicant requests postponement of the effectiveness of the application.(d) Registration of a franchise under this act expires one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the end of the franchisor's fiscal year following the application date, unless the director prescribes a different period by rule or order. A franchise registration may be renewed for one year or a shorter period if designated by the director by filing an application to renew thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the registration.(e) An applicant or registrant may withdraw a franchise registration application, or franchise registration if it files a written request for withdrawal with the director. Withdrawal is effective fifteen (15) business days from the day on which the withdrawal request is filed with the director.(f) The director may accept the examination of a registration application by another state administrator as complying with this act.R.I. Gen. Laws § 19-28.1-9