Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts

First, if your franchise is not held in your name but the name of your company, you will have to hire an attorney as a non-lawyer cannot represent a corporate entity. If you are the franchisee personally, you are free to proceed pro se, i.e., without counsel. However, except for a clear breach and relatively small damages, you probably do not want to do this. If I were you, I would consult with counsel first to see if you have a viable claim. Often times, people who bring their own claims have their cases thrown out because the claim itself is baseless. An attorney will bring a disinterested experienced perspective on the validity and value of your claim and may help you avoid the time and cost of pursuing a doomed case.