Who bears the expense if the Bambu franchise agreement needs to be translated?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 24.21 Translation of Agreement.
The English language will be regarded as the authoritative and official text of this Agreement; however, this Agreement may be translated into the language in dominant use in the Protected Area, at Franchisee's expense, in the event that translation is necessary for any reason, including for the purpose of registration of this Agreement with the applicable governmental authority.
Nevertheless, in the event that any discrepancies exist between the English text and the translated text, the English text will be considered the official text of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for the costs associated with translating the franchise agreement. The FDD specifies that while the English language version of the agreement is the official text, a translation may be necessary for various reasons, including registration with governmental authorities in the franchisee's protected area.
This means that if a franchisee needs to translate the Bambu franchise agreement into the dominant language of their protected area, they will have to pay for the translation themselves. This could be a significant expense, especially if the agreement is lengthy or complex. The FDD also clarifies that even if a translated version exists, the English version will always be considered the official and authoritative text of the agreement.
This allocation of responsibility is fairly standard in franchising. It is important for prospective Bambu franchisees to factor in potential translation costs when assessing the overall investment required to start and operate a franchise, particularly if they anticipate needing a translated agreement for legal or regulatory compliance in their specific location.