Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 1 - Business Opportunities
Section 14-115 - Bond or Trust Account

(a)    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:
        (1)    get a surety bond in favor of the State from a surety company authorized to do business in the State; or
        (2)    establish a trust account in favor of the State with an insured bank or savings institution in the State.
    (b)    The amount of the bond or trust account shall be at least $50,000.
    (c)    (1)    A person may bring an action against the bond or trust account to recover damages resulting from:
            (i)    a violation of this subtitle; or
            (ii)    the seller’s breach of the contract for the sale of a business opportunity.
        (2)    The surety or trustee is liable only for actual damages up to the amount of the bond or trust account.

Structure Maryland Statutes

Maryland Statutes

Business Regulation

Title 14 - Business Opportunities, Franchises, and Multilevel Distribution Companies

Subtitle 1 - Business Opportunities

Section 14-101 - Definitions

Section 14-102 - Legislative Policy

Section 14-103 - Scope of Subtitle

Section 14-104 - Exclusions

Section 14-105 - Delegation

Section 14-106 - Orders, Regulations, and Forms

Section 14-107 - Publication of Information

Section 14-108 - Investigations

Section 14-109 - Hearings

Section 14-110 - Civil Enforcement of Subtitle

Section 14-111 - Miscellaneous Powers

Section 14-112 - Privilege Against Self-Incrimination

Section 14-113 - Registration of Business Opportunity Required

Section 14-113.1 - Registration of Business Opportunity

Section 14-114 - Disclosure Statement

Section 14-115 - Bond or Trust Account

Section 14-116 - Amendments to Documents

Section 14-117 - Renewal

Section 14-118 - Contracts for the Sale of Business Opportunities

Section 14-119 - Denial of Effectiveness to Registration, Suspension, or Revocation of Registrations

Section 14-120 - Untrue Statements or Omissions of Material Facts

Section 14-121 - Fraud or Deceit

Section 14-122 - Representations of Income or Earning Potential

Section 14-123 - Use of Commercial Symbol

Section 14-124 - Reference to Compliance

Section 14-125 - Failure to Deliver Products, Equipment, or Supplies

Section 14-126 - Remedies for Violation

Section 14-127 - False or Misleading Statement or Omission of Material Fact

Section 14-128 - General Penalty

Section 14-129 - Short Title