In the Aw Franchise Agreement, what do 'we', 'us', or 'the Company' refer to?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Agreement has been written in an informal style in order to make it more easily readable and to be sure that you become thoroughly familiar with all of the important rights and obligations the Agreement covers before you sign it. In this Agreement, we refer to Rayyan Pizza Franchise LLC as "we", "us" or the "Company." We refer to you as "you" or "Franchisee." If you are a corporation, limited liability company or a partnership, you will notice certain provisions that are applicable to your shareholders, members or partners on whose business skill, financial capability and personal character we are relying in entering into this Agreement. Those individuals will be referred to in this Agreement as "Owners."
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the terms 'we', 'us', or 'the Company' used in the franchise agreement refer to Rayyan Pizza Franchise LLC. The document clarifies this early on to ensure the franchisee understands who they are contracting with.
This definition is important for a prospective Aw franchisee because it clearly identifies the franchisor entity. Knowing the exact legal name and entity type (in this case, an Illinois limited liability company) is crucial for understanding who is responsible for upholding the franchisor's obligations under the agreement. Franchisees need to be aware of the specific legal entity they are dealing with for legal and business purposes.
Furthermore, the franchise agreement also defines 'you' or 'Franchisee' as the individual or entity being granted the franchise. If the franchisee is a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership, the agreement specifies that certain provisions apply to the shareholders, members, or partners, who are referred to as 'Owners'. This distinction is important because these 'Owners' may have specific obligations or be subject to certain restrictions under the franchise agreement, such as those related to personal guarantees or non-competition clauses.