Under what conditions will Bft Franchisor (or its affiliate or designee) expressly assume the Tenant's obligations under the Lease?

According to Bft's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the tenant, who is the franchisee, is solely responsible for all obligations under the lease agreement. However, Bft (or its affiliate or designee) may expressly assume these obligations. For Bft to assume the tenant's obligations, it must be done in writing and signed by an officer of Bft (or its applicable affiliate or designee).

This means that a Bft franchisee is fully responsible for the lease unless Bft provides an explicit written agreement, signed by an authorized officer, stating that Bft will take over the lease obligations. This protects Bft from being automatically liable for the franchisee's lease commitments.

For a prospective franchisee, this highlights the importance of carefully reviewing the lease agreement and understanding their obligations. It also emphasizes the need to obtain any assumption of lease obligations by Bft in writing, with the proper signatures, to ensure it is legally binding. Without this written agreement, the franchisee remains fully liable for the lease, even if Bft is involved in other aspects of the franchise operation.