Does Bang Cookies require the franchisee's shop to be at a fixed location?
Bang_Cookies Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ate a Bang Cookies Shop from a fixed Shop Location located within a specified territory. Relying on the representations made by Franchisee and/or Franchisee's Owners in any submitted application and during the application process and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Franchisee's request has been approved by Franchisor, subject to the following terms and conditions:
- (1) During the Term of this Agreement and subject to the rights of Franchisor including, but not limited to, the Reserved Rights, Franchisor grants to Franchisee and Franchisee accepts, the nonexclusive license, right and obligation to develop and operate, one Bang Cookies Shop in conformity with the System and this Agreement from a single fixed shop location, selected by Franchisee but requiring the approval of Franchisor ("Franchisee's Shop Location") and, as designated by Franchisor in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, within a Designated Territory;
- (2) Unless otherwise expressly authorized in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, Franchisee's Shop must be established as a Bakery Location;
- (3) If, as of the Effective Date, Franchisee has selected a proposed Shop Location that Franchisor approves as Franchisee's Shop Location, then Franchisee's Shop Location and Designated Territory, if any, shall be identified in Schedule 1 of this Agreement. To be effective, Schedule 1 must be completed and signed by Franchisor. Franchisee's execution of Schedule 1 with a specific
location for Franchisee's Shop Location shall constitute Franchisee's obligation to develop and operate the Franchised Business at the designated Franchisee Shop Location;
- (4) If, as of the Effective Date, Franchisee has not selected a proposed Shop Location, and/or has not obtained Franchisor's approval of the proposed Shop Location, and/or Schedule 1 to this Agreement is left incomplete or is not signed by Franchisor, Franchisee must locate, identify and secure a Shop Location for the Franchised Business in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the requirement that Franchisee must obtain Franchisor's approval of Franchisee's Shop Location. If, after the Effective Date, Franchisee proposes and Franchisor approves of Franchisee's proposed Shop Location, such approval must be in writing and must be evidenced by Franchisor's execution of Schedule 1 with a specific Shop Location designated and identified in Schedule 1. At the time of executing a completed Schedule 1 and, thereby, approving Franchisee's proposed Shop Location, Franchisor, in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, shall designate and determine Franchisee's Designated Territory;
- (5) If, as of the Effective Date or other appropriate periods after the Effective Date, Franchisee has not selected a proposed Shop Location that is approved by Franchisor but, Franchisee has identified an area in which Franchisee may look to secure a shop location for the Franchised Business, Franchisor, in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, may enter into the Site Selection Acknowledgment attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 3. If executed by Franchisor, within the Exhibit 3 Site Selection Acknowledgment, Franchisor shall designate a geographic area (the "Site Selection Area") within which Franchisor, during the Site Selection Period, shall not, on behalf of any third party, approve any new Shop Location.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 56–245)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Bang Cookies's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to operate from a single, fixed shop location. The franchisee is responsible for selecting this location, but it is subject to the franchisor's approval. This location is referred to as the "Franchisee's Shop Location."
This fixed location requirement means that franchisees cannot operate a mobile Bang Cookies business or move their shop without explicit permission from Bang Cookies. If a franchisee wishes to relocate, they must obtain prior written consent from Bang Cookies, which Bang Cookies can refuse at their discretion. Bang Cookies may also impose conditions on relocation, such as ensuring the new location meets their current standards and is within the franchisee's designated territory, and is not in close proximity to another Bang Cookies shop.
The FDD also defines "Shop Locations" as the fixed locations from which Bang Cookies Shops are established, operated, and managed, reinforcing the fixed nature of the business's physical presence. There is an exception for a "Satellite Location" which does not include full production facilities and requires support from a Bakery Location. Unless otherwise authorized by Bang Cookies, the shop must be established as a Bakery Location.
For a prospective franchisee, this means carefully selecting an initial location is crucial, as relocation is not guaranteed and is subject to Bang Cookies's approval. Franchisees should discuss site selection criteria and relocation policies with Bang Cookies to fully understand the restrictions and possibilities related to the shop's location.