Under what condition are transfer fees collectable for a Bee Organized franchise?
Bee_Organized Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
gations to Franchisor and/or Franchisor's affiliates under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements must be satisfied in a timely manner, and Franchisee must satisfy all trade, supplier, and vendor accounts and other debts, of whatever nature or kind, in a timely manner;
(3) Franchisee, each Owner, and each Spouse must not be in default or material breach of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
(4) The transferee shall be bound by all terms and conditions of this Agreement, and each owner of the transferee and their respective spouses shall personally execute the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1;
(5) All obligations of Franchisee under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be assumed by the transferee, each individual owner of transferee, and their respective spouses in a manner satisfactory to Franchisor;
(6) Franchisee, each Owner, and each Spouse must execute the General Release attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 5 releasing Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates and Franchisor's past and present officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, agents, representatives, independent contractors, servants and employees, of any and all claims against Franchisor for matters arising on, or before, the effective date of the Transfer;
(7) If the proposed Transfer includes or entails the Transfer of this Agreement, substantially all of the assets of the Franchised Business, a controlling interest in Franchisee, or is one of a series of Transfers which in the aggregate Transfers substantially all of the assets of the Franchised Business or a controlling interest in Franchisee, then, at the election of Franchisor and upon notice from Franchisor to Franchisee, the transferee may be required to execute (and/or, upon Franchisee's request, shall cause all interested parties to execute) for a term ending on the expiration date of the original Term of this Agreement, the then current standard form Franchise Agreement offered to new franchisees of Bee Organized Businesses and any other agreements as Franchisor requires. Such agreements shall supersede this Agreement and its associated agreement in all respects, and the terms of Franchisor's then current agreements may differ from the terms in this Agreement, provided that such agreements shall provide for the same Royalty Fee, Advertising Contributions, and all other financial or monetary obligations established in this Agreement;
(8) The transferee, at its expense, must improve, modify, refurbish, renovate, remodel, and/or otherwise upgrade Franchisee's non-residential Administrative Office to conform to the then current standards and specifications of Franchisor, and the transferee must complete such improvements, modifications, refurbishments, renovations, remodeling, and/or upgrading within the time period Franchisor reasonably specifies;
(9) Franchisee, each Owner, and each Spouse shall remain liable for all obligations to Franchisor set forth in this Agreement;
(10) At the transferee's expense, the transferee, and the transferee's Managing Owner, managers and/or any other applicable employees of transferee's Bee Organized Business must complete any training programs then in effect for franchisees of Bee Organized Businesses upon terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement or as Franchisor otherwise reasonably requires;
(11) Franchisee must pay a fixed sum of $15,000 to Franchisor (the "Transfer Fee");
(12) Franchisor's approval of the material terms and conditions of the Transfer, and Franchisor determines in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment that the price and terms of payment are not so burdensome as to be detrimental to the future operations of the Franchised Business by the transferee;
(13) Transferee's employees, directors, officers, independent contractors, and agents who will have access to Confidential Information shall execute the Confidentiality Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 2;
(14) Franchisee entering into an agreement with Franchisor agreeing to subordinate any obligations of transferee to make installment payments of the purchase price to Franchisee to the transferee's obligations to Franchisor, including, without limitation, transferee's obligations with respect to Royalty Fees and Advertising Contributions;
(15) Franchisee and transferee acknowledge and agree that Franchisor's approval of the Transfer indicates only that the transferee meets, or Franchisor waived, the criteria established by Franchisor for franchisees as of the time of such transfer, and Franchisor's approval thereof does not constitute a warranty or guaranty by Franchisor, express or implied, of the suitability of the terms of sale, successful operation, or profitability of the Franchised Business;
(16) Franchisee and transferee acknowledge and agree that Franchisor's approval of the Transfer at issue does not constitute Franchisor's approval of future or other Transfers or the waiver of the requirement that Franchisor must approve such future or other Transfers in accordance with this Agreement;
(17) The Transfer must be made in compliance with all applicable laws;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 54–218)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bee Organized Franchise Disclosure Document, a transfer fee of $15,000 is required when a franchisee transfers their franchise. This fee is payable to Bee Organized. The term 'transfer' is broadly defined, including assignments, sales, gifts, pledges or subfranchises, mortgages, mergers, consolidations, exchanges of shares, or sales of voting interests.
Several conditions must be met for Bee Organized to approve a transfer. The transferee must agree to adhere to all terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement, and each owner of the transferee, along with their spouses, must execute the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty. Additionally, the transferee must assume all obligations of the franchisee under the agreement in a manner satisfactory to Bee Organized. The franchisee, each owner, and their spouses must also execute a General Release, releasing Bee Organized from any claims arising before the transfer date.
Furthermore, the transferee is responsible for upgrading the administrative office to meet Bee Organized's current standards within a specified timeframe. The transferee and its managing owner, managers, and applicable employees must complete any required training programs. Bee Organized must also approve the material terms and conditions of the transfer, ensuring that the price and terms of payment are not detrimental to the franchised business's future operations. Finally, any employees, directors, officers, independent contractors, and agents of the transferee who will have access to confidential information must execute a Confidentiality Agreement.