Regarding the Bojangles franchise agreement, does delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page via electronic transmission (including platforms like DocuSign or scanned PDFs) constitute effective delivery of a manually executed counterpart?

According to Bojangles's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, electronic transmission of signature pages (including DocuSign and scanned PDFs) is considered effective delivery. This applies to addenda to the Bojangles Franchise Agreement, Express Franchise Agreement, and Renewal Franchise Agreement. Specifically, the relevant addenda state that delivering a signature page via electronic means has the same legal effect as delivering a manually signed original. This applies to all counterparts of the agreement. This clause appears in addenda related to Rhode Island franchisees and in the general addendum to the Express Franchise Agreement.

For a prospective Bojangles franchisee, this means that you can sign and return documents electronically, which simplifies and speeds up the signing process. You do not need to physically mail the documents. This is a common practice in modern franchising, as it streamlines the agreement process and reduces administrative overhead. Electronic signatures are legally binding, provided they meet certain requirements for validity and authenticity.

However, it's important to note that this provision specifically applies to the addenda mentioned. While the core franchise agreements likely follow similar practices, franchisees should confirm with Bojangles that electronic signatures are acceptable for all documents related to their franchise agreement to ensure full compliance and avoid any potential issues related to contract execution.