Premier Martial Arts Franchisor to Pay $1.85 Million in FTC Deal

Premier Franchising Group, the franchisor behind Premier Martial Arts, and Franchise Fastlane, the outside firm that sold its franchises, have agreed to proposed settlements totaling roughly $1.85 million to resolve a Federal Trade Commission enforcement action, the law firm Clark Hill reported on October 15, 2026.

The FTC alleged the two companies oversold the opportunity, making claims about earnings, financial results and how little day-to-day work owners would need to put in. Buyers with no martial arts background were told they could run one or more studios profitably while remaining semi-absentee, according to the agency's complaint.

Regulators also said the franchise disclosure documents carried financial performance figures the company could not back up, and omitted both the underlying basis for those figures and the role Franchise Fastlane staff played in managing sales or operations. More than 200 people bought in, paying franchise fees starting at $49,500 and taking on construction and operating expenses, often funded by debt.

Under the proposed orders, certain franchisees must be told they can exit their agreements without penalty within a set window, ending future payments but also their use of the brand's trademarks. Both companies face continuing compliance requirements under the FTC Franchise Rule.

The International Franchise Association said the case is the agency's first enforcement action against a third-party franchise sales organization over alleged Franchise Rule violations.

This story was first reported by Clark Hill.