What rights does the Franchisor grant to the Developer under the Bft Development Agreement?
Bft Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e, Indemnification, and Acknowledgment (the "Guaranty"), the current form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto; (4) the only business Developer will own or operate during the Term will be the exercise of the rights granted to it under this Agreement and any other agreement between it and Franchisor or its successors and assigns; and (5) at
1
Franchisor's request, Developer will furnish Franchisor true and correct copies of all documents regarding Developer's formation, existence, standing, and governance.
2. GRANT OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
A. Grant and Term. Franchisor grants Developer the Development Rights, which must be exercised in strict compliance with this Agreement. The Development Rights may be exercised from the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, continuing through the earlier of (1) the date on which the last Studio, which is required to have conducted its Soft Opening (as defined in Section 2.C below) in order to satisfy the Development Schedule, conducts its Soft Opening pursuant to an executed Franchise Agreement, or (2) the last day of the last Development Period (defined in Section 2.C) (collectively, the "Term"). Developer accepts the grant of the Development Rights and agrees to, at all times, faithfully, honestly, and diligently perform its obligations under this Agreement and fully exploit the Development Rights during the Term and throughout the entire Development Area. Developer may not subcontract or delegate to any third parties any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement.
B. Development Area; Reservation Of Rights. The Development Rights may only be exercised for Studios to be located in the Development Area identified on Exhibit A hereto. As long as Developer is in compliance with this Agreement and except with respect to Non-Traditional Locations (defined below), Franchisor will not, during the Term, (1) operate, or grant the right to anyone else to operate, a Studio within the Development Area, or (2) grant Development Rights to anyone else to develop Studios within the Development Area. A "Non-Traditional Location" is (a) any location that is situated within or as part of a larger venue or facility and, as a result, is likely to draw the predominance of its customers from those persons who are using or attending events in the larger venue or facility (for example, "big box" gyms and/or fitness facilities, cruise ships, military bases, shopping malls, airports, sports facilities and stadiums, industrial or office complexes, hotels, train stations and other transportation facilities, travel plazas, casinos, hospitals, theme parks, convention centers, colleges/universities, multi-unit residential properties, and other similar captive market locations**)**.
For the avoidance of doubt, Franchisor reserves for itself and its affiliates all rights not expressly granted to Developer in this Agreement and the right to do all things that Franchisor does not expressly agree in this Agreement not to do, in each case, without regard to proximity to the Development Area and without any compensation to Developer, and on such terms and conditions as Franchisor deems appropriate. Without limitation, Franchisor and its affiliates may, themselves or through authorized third parties (and Developer is not granted the right to): (a) open and operate, and license third parties the right to open or operate, Studios utilizing the Marks and System outside the Development Area; (b) market, offer and sell products and services similar to those offered by Studios (such as private label products that Franchisor may develop and training programs) under a different trademark or trademarks at any location, both within or outside the Development Area; (c) use the Marks and other aspects of the System, as well as any other marks Franchisor may designate, to distribute products and services through alternate channels of distribution, including without limitation, via the Internet and other e-commerce channels, catalog sales, direct mail or wholesale, anywhere either within or outside the Development Area; (d) acquire, or be acquired by, or merge with, any company, including a company operating or licensing one or more businesses offering products or services similar to those offered by any Studio located within or outside the Development Area, and subsequently operate (or license a third-party the right to operate) these businesses and allow them to incorporate certain elements of the System (excluding the Marks and Trade Dress) regardless of location; (e) develop or become associated with and engage in other businesses, including other fitness concepts and systems, and/or award franchises under such other concepts for locations anywhere, including inside and outside of the Development Area; (f) use the Marks and System, and license others to use the Marks and System, to engage in any other activities not expressly prohibited by this
Agreement; and (g) open and operate, or license third parties the right to open or operate, Studios at Non-Traditional Locations both within and outside the Development Area.
C. Development Schedule. The Development Schedule is set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 57–66)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bft Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor grants the developer the Development Rights, which must be exercised in strict compliance with the Development Agreement. These rights can be exercised from the Effective Date until the earlier of two dates: either the date the last studio required by the Development Schedule conducts its soft opening under an executed Franchise Agreement, or the last day of the last Development Period. The developer accepts these rights and agrees to diligently perform their obligations and fully exploit the Development Rights throughout the Development Area during the Term. The developer is explicitly prohibited from subcontracting or delegating any rights or obligations to third parties under the agreement.
Bft retains all rights not expressly granted to the developer and can perform actions without regard to the Development Area or compensation to the developer, unless expressly agreed otherwise in the Development Agreement. Specifically, Bft can open and operate studios, license others to do so outside the Development Area, market similar products under different trademarks, distribute products through alternate channels like the internet, acquire or merge with other companies (even those offering similar services), develop other fitness concepts, and operate studios at non-traditional locations, all without restriction.
It is important to note that the Development Agreement does not grant the developer any rights to use Bft's trademarks; these rights are only granted under individual Franchise Agreements. Furthermore, the developer is responsible for locating suitable sites for studios within the Development Area to meet the Development Schedule, and Bft has the right to reject any proposed site or affiliate that does not meet its criteria or if the developer is not in compliance with existing Franchise Agreements. Upon termination or expiration of the Development Agreement, all rights granted to the developer immediately cease and revert to Bft, and the developer must comply with non-competition restrictions.