Must the architects, designers, and engineers employed by the Master Franchisee for the Bhc restaurant be acceptable to Bhc?
Bhc Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Master Franchisee a floor plan and Master Franchisee must pay Franchisor for all costs and expenses that Franchisor incurs in providing the site design review of $2,500 ("Site Design Review Fee") and site review fee of $2,000 to $4,000 ("Site Review Fee"). At Master Franchisee's sole expense, Master Franchisee must employ directly architects, designers, engineers, or others as reasonably acceptable to Franchisor to complete, adapt, modify, or substitute the sample plans and specifications for the Franchised BHC Restaurant, and review and monitor all licensing related matters. Master Franchisee shall be solely responsible for acquiring all of the necessary permits and licenses, including but not limited to permits related to structural reinforcement, grease interceptors, and parking. The architect must submit a complete set of final plans and specifications to Franchisor before commencing leasehold improvement of the Franchised BHC Restaurant. Franchisor will review these plans and specifications promptly and accept them as stated or provide Master Franchisee with Franchisor's comments on the plans and specifications. Franchisor will have complete and uncontested control over the design of the Franchised BHC Restaurant and Master Franchisee may not modify the design or choose third party designers without Franchisor's express written consent.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–230)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Master Franchisee must use licensed general contractors, designers, vendors, and architects that are accepted by Bhc before performing any leasehold improvements to the franchised location. The Master Franchisee is also required to employ architects, designers, and engineers that are reasonably acceptable to Bhc to complete, adapt, modify, or substitute the sample plans and specifications for the franchised restaurant.
Bhc also requires that the Master Franchisee build out the restaurant within ten months of Bhc approving the premises, using architects, project managers, contractors, subcontractors, architectural plans, and key equipment suppliers reasonably acceptable to Bhc. Before commencing any leasehold improvements, the architect must submit a complete set of final plans and specifications to Bhc for review and approval.
Bhc maintains complete control over the design of the restaurant, and the Master Franchisee cannot modify the design or choose third-party designers without express written consent from Bhc. Bhc will consult with the Master Franchisee on the leasehold improvements and equipping of the restaurant, and may require a certain color scheme and decorative trade dress. However, it remains the Master Franchisee's responsibility to construct, equip, and open the restaurant.