---
title: "Indiana Blocks I Heart Mac & Cheese Franchise Sales"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/a778be4c-54bc-4a7c-a538-a2232d4c3950
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/indiana-blocks-i-heart-mac-cheese-from-selling-new-franchises-2732398
category: "Franchise Industry"
industry: "Franchise Industry"
topics: ["Regulation & legal"]
published: 2026-06-09T21:16:47.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:57:16.702Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1781039550_2732398.png
---

# Indiana Blocks I Heart Mac & Cheese Franchise Sales

**TL;DR:** Indiana regulators have permanently barred I Heart Mac & Cheese from selling franchises in the state due to disclosure violations. The company failed to disclose certain lawsuits and executives' employment history, and provided unrealistic expectations to franchisees.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2026-06-09. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/indiana-blocks-i-heart-mac-cheese-from-selling-new-franchises-2732398).*

## Story

Indiana regulators have permanently barred I Heart Mac & Cheese from selling franchises in the state after determining that the company violated franchise disclosure laws and misled prospective franchisees, according to Franchise Times.

Indiana's action followed a complaint against Mac and Cheese Franchise Operations (MACFO), the parent company of I Heart Mac & Cheese. State regulators found the company failed to disclose certain lawsuits and aspects of executives’ employment history in its Franchise Disclosure Document, information they said prospective franchisees should have received before investing.

MACFO had been under a cease-and-desist order in Indiana since 2023, when regulators halted its franchise sales in the state. In April 2026, officials followed with a permanent ban.

According to court documents, the company sold 16 franchises to at least seven Indiana operators. Regulators found that none of those locations successfully operated long-term, with several never opening at all.

The state also determined that franchisees were provided unrealistic expectations regarding startup costs, staffing needs and labor expenses. Investigators found that projected investment costs listed in earlier FDDs were significantly below actual expenses required to open and operate a restaurant.

As part of the ruling, MACFO was ordered to return $297,500 in franchise fees to three Indiana franchisees whose agreements were terminated. The company and several executives were also assessed $80,000 in civil penalties.

The decision adds to growing scrutiny surrounding the brand, which once claimed approximately 80 locations but has since contracted to just six operating restaurants nationwide.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- franchise sales (topic)
- Regulation (sector)
- indiana (location)
- franchise regulation (topic)
- I Heart Mac & Cheese (company)
- Mac and Cheese Franchise Operations (MACFO) (company)
- disclosure violations (topic)
- state ban (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/indiana-blocks-i-heart-mac-cheese-from-selling-new-franchises-2732398). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/a778be4c-54bc-4a7c-a538-a2232d4c3950).