Is Annex Brands required to provide site selection assistance to me, and what conditions apply?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Before you open your retail center, we will:
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- Provide you with site selection assistance, subject to availability of personnel and at your request (franchise agreement, Subsection 3.A).
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- Provide you with our review and approval or disapproval of proposed sites for your retail center (franchise agreement, Subsection 3.A).
Site Selection
We must approve the site for your retail center. We approve or disapprove a site within 30 days after you propose it, based on factors such as population density, demographics, competition from other businesses, the nature of other businesses in proximity to the site, commercial characteristics, visibility, accessibility, size, appearance and other physical characteristics that determine the suitability of the site. We will assist you in selecting a site, subject to availability of personnel and at your request. We may, but are not obligated to, inspect a proposed site. If we inspect a proposed site, we will not charge you. If we disapprove a proposed site, you must locate another site for your retail center.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 45–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Annex Brands' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Annex Brands will provide site selection assistance, subject to personnel availability and at the franchisee's request. Annex Brands must approve the site for the retail center, and will either approve or disapprove of a proposed site within 30 days of the franchisee proposing it.
The FDD states that Annex Brands bases its decision on factors such as population density, demographics, competition, the nature of nearby businesses, commercial characteristics, visibility, accessibility, size, appearance, and other physical characteristics. Annex Brands may, but is not obligated to, inspect a proposed site, and will not charge the franchisee if they do so. If Annex Brands disapproves of a proposed site, the franchisee must find another location.
It is important to note that Annex Brands does not guarantee site selection assistance, as it is subject to the availability of their personnel and dependent on the franchisee's request. The franchisee is responsible for finding potential sites, but Annex Brands retains the right to approve or disapprove them based on their criteria. This process is typical in franchising, where the franchisor sets location standards but the franchisee often bears the initial responsibility for scouting locations.