What responsibility does the franchisee have to investigate zoning, licensing, and leasing requirements for a proposed Afuri Ramen Dumpling site?

According to Afuri Ramen Dumpling's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, it is the franchisee's responsibility to investigate all applicable zoning, licensing, leasing, and other requirements for any proposed site. The franchisee must ensure that the site they select complies with these requirements. While Afuri Ramen Dumpling may offer assistance in site selection, any site recommendation or approval does not represent that the site is available or legally appropriate for use as a franchise site.

Afuri Ramen Dumpling does not guarantee any location selected or lease signed by the franchisee and will not be liable for any consequences resulting from the franchisee's site choice. The franchisor may provide reasonable assistance in finding a location acceptable to the franchisee, but the franchisee will pay for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to this assistance, including travel and lodging expenses incurred by Afuri Ramen Dumpling. The franchisee is also responsible for all other site selection and lease negotiation expenses.

In addition, the franchisee's architect is expected to provide feedback regarding local building code compliance and review the final floor plan to ensure code compliance. The architect will also handle engineering if needed, occupancy changes if required, and provide a code and building summary, site plan, occupancy and restroom calculations. The franchisee's architect is also responsible for window and door schedules, energy code summaries, details of fire-rated assemblies, design review drawings, signage permitting, and any other local code-specific plans needed to complete the permit set, including grease management and tree preservation plans, as well as permitting application and management and egress plans.