What constitutes 'good cause' for Best Brains to repurchase a franchisee's business in Washington?

According to the 2025 Best Brains Franchise Disclosure Document, provisions in franchise agreements that allow Best Brains to repurchase a franchisee's business during the term without the franchisee's consent are unlawful in Washington, unless the franchise is terminated for good cause. This is per RCW 19.100.180(2)(j). This means that Best Brains cannot arbitrarily decide to buy back a franchise location simply because they want to.

This protection ensures that Best Brains franchisees in Washington have some security in their investment and cannot be easily forced out of business. The "good cause" standard requires Best Brains to have a legitimate, justifiable reason for terminating the franchise agreement and repurchasing the business. Without good cause, the franchisee's consent is required for any buy-back agreement.

However, the FDD does not define what specifically constitutes "good cause" in this context. It only states that termination must be for good cause to allow a buy-back without the franchisee's consent. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Best Brains regarding what specific actions or failures would be considered "good cause" for termination and repurchase under Washington law. Understanding this definition is crucial for assessing the risks and responsibilities associated with operating a Best Brains franchise in Washington.