Where can I find more detailed information about my obligations as a Big Apple Bagels franchisee?
Big_Apple_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 9: FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS]
| Obligation | Section in Franchise Agreement (unless otherwise specified) | Item in Franchise Disclosure Document |
|---|---|---|
| a. Site Selection and acquisition/lease | 3.a. | 11 |
| b. Pre-opening purchases/leases | 3.a.,3.b., 3.c. | 7, 8 |
| c. Site development and other pre-opening | 3.b., 3.c. | 7, 11 |
| requirements | ||
| d. Initial and ongoing training | 4.a., 4.b. | 6, 11, 15 |
| e. Opening | 3.e. | 11 |
| f. Fees | 8, 13 | 5, 6, 7 |
| g. Compliance standards /Operations Manual | 4.c., 9 | 8, 11, 14, 16 |
| h. Trademarks and proprietary information | 5, 6 | 11, 13, 14 |
| i. Restrictions on products/services | 9.a., 9.b., 9.c. | 8, 16 |
| j. Warranty and customer service requirements | 9.c., 9.d. | 16 |
| k. Territorial development | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| l. Ongoing product/service purchases | 9.a., 9.b. | 8, 16 |
| m. Maintenance, appearance and remodeling | 3.d., 9.a., 9.b., 9.c. | 16 |
| n. Insurance | 9.g. | 6, 7, 8 |
| o. Advertising | 9.d., 10 | 6, 7, 11 |
| p. Indemnification | 7.d., 7.e., 9.b.viii | 6, 13 |
| q. Owner's participation/ management staffing | 4.a., 4.b., 9.e. | 15 |
| r. Records/reports | 11 | 6 |
| s. Inspections/audits | 12 | 6, 11 |
| t. Transfer | 14 | 6, 17 |
| u. Renewal | 2.b. | 6, 17 |
| v. Post-termination obligations | 17 | 17 |
| w. Non-competition covenants | 9.f., 17.d. | 17 |
| Obligation | Section in Franchise Agreement (unless otherwise specified) | Item in Franchise Disclosure Document |
| --- | --- | --- |
| x. Dispute resolution | 18 | 6, 17 |
| y. Liquidated damages | 17.g. | 6 |
| z. Guarantee of franchisee obligations | Rider C | 15 |
Source: Item 9 — FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS (FDD pages 39–41)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big Apple Bagels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 9 provides a comprehensive overview of a franchisee's obligations under both the Franchise Agreement and the Area Development Agreement. This item serves as a roadmap, directing prospective franchisees to specific sections within these agreements and other relevant items within the FDD itself for more detailed information.
For instance, if a franchisee wants to understand their obligations regarding site selection and acquisition/lease, Item 9 indicates that details can be found in Section 3.a. of the Franchise Agreement and Item 11 of the FDD. Similarly, obligations related to fees are covered in Sections 8 and 13 of the Franchise Agreement, as well as Items 5, 6, and 7 of the FDD. This structured approach allows franchisees to quickly locate and review the specific requirements and responsibilities associated with various aspects of operating a Big Apple Bagels franchise.
It's important to note that the obligations differ slightly depending on whether the franchisee is operating under a standard Franchise Agreement or an Area Development Agreement. For example, under the Area Development Agreement, site development and initial/ongoing training obligations may not be applicable, as indicated in the table. Therefore, prospective franchisees should carefully review the table that corresponds to their specific agreement type to ensure they have a clear understanding of their duties and where to find detailed information about them.