Want to open own tax service as situation has changed drastically.

Have worked for a franchise for 18 years, which was doing business as ****. Feb. 1 of last year, the owner passed away. It was writting that he's sister who had been manager for 28 years was to get the business. We finished out the season with being told that it would stay in the family. Things changed, corporate is now taking over and they pay in company office probably half of what we made. Don't know if we will be offered postion or not, as our contracts ran from Jan 1 to May 15 of each year. They do contain a conveyance not to compete, it use to state Marion County then the last couple of years it is written for whole state, but says if this isn't allowed in your state, state law takes over. I'm an EA, they did not pay for any of my classes, or my license renewal, they don't pay the fee required now for our PTIN which IRS requires for paid preparers to be able to do taxes. While some class can be taken from company on line, you are required so many in class hours which I pay for myself. There are no trade secrets, IRS forms are used. Contract states 2 years before you can do taxes anywhere in the state of Ohio. But since we will be required to take a cut in pay if we are offered a contract, which there is no guarentee that we will be, can they enforce this contract in light of it going from a locally owned franchise to a company office.