What is the purpose of the site evaluation form that Aw requires?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Prior to entering into a lease to acquire a site, you must submit to us a site evaluation form for the proposed, together with a letter of intent, proposed lease or other evidence satisfactory to us which confirms your favorable prospects for obtaining the proposed site.
We will provide you written notice of approval or disapproval of the proposed site within thirty (30) days after receiving your written proposal and required documents.
While we will use our experience in providing any assistance to you regarding site selection and in granting approval of a site, nothing contained herein shall be interpreted as a guarantee of success for said location.
You must have leased a site for the Premises which has been approved by us within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of this Agreement.
We have the unilateral right (but not the obligation) to terminate this Agreement upon notice to you if you have not signed a lease for a site approved by us for your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant within one hundred eighty (180) from the date of this Agreement.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the site evaluation form is a required step in the process of securing a location for your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant. Before a franchisee can enter into a lease for a potential site, they must submit a site evaluation form to Aw for approval. This form must be accompanied by a letter of intent, a proposed lease, or other evidence that demonstrates the franchisee's ability to obtain the site.
Aw will then review the submitted documents and provide written notice of approval or disapproval within thirty days of receiving the complete proposal. While Aw may offer site selection assistance based on their experience, the FDD clarifies that this assistance and any subsequent approval do not guarantee the location's success. The franchisee is ultimately responsible for finding a suitable site.
Furthermore, the FDD states that a franchisee must have a site approved by Aw and a lease signed within 180 days from the date of the Franchise Agreement. If the franchisee fails to meet this deadline, Aw has the right to terminate the agreement. Additionally, any lease or sublease must be approved by Aw before it is executed, and Aw can mandate specific terms and provisions to be included in the lease, ensuring the location aligns with Aw's standards and operational needs.