The main office is probably not liable for your paychecks--usually, each franchise location is solely liable for your its own payroll, and the franchises are specifically set up that way to insulate the main office/franchisor from liability. Being a franchisor does not automatically make you responsible for your franchisee's obligations. You should contact the labor deparatment to file a payroll complaint; if they can't help you, trying filing a lawsuit vs. the franchise location and its owners. (Depending on how the franchise was legally structured--e.g. if it was an LLC or corporation--the owners may not be legally liable, but it's worth naming them; let them prove they are not responsible.)