What organizational, managerial, and financial requirements must a proposed assignee meet to operate a Bonchon franchised business?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
must comply in all respects with the requirements and prohibitions set forth in Section 8.18 of this Agreement ("Business Entity Requirements and Records").
Any transfer pursuant to this Section 14.03 will not be subject to our right of first refusal below and will not require you to pay to us any transfer fee.
14.04 Assignment By You – Sale To Third Party
You may not sell or otherwise assign or transfer all or any interest in you (if you are a business entity), the franchise conferred by this Agreement, your franchised Business, your Bonchon Restaurant, your right to use the Bonchon System, Proprietary Marks, Confidential Information and/or Manuals, or any interest in any of these, to a third party without our prior written consent. If we do not elect to exercise our right of first refusal (as provided in Section 14.06 below), which right shall not apply in the event that the assignee is a member of your immediate family, then we will not unreasonably withhold consent to the assignment and sale. You agree that it will not be unreasonable for us to impose, among other requirements, the following conditions to granting consent to the proposed assignment and sale:
- A. That the proposed assignee (meaning all individuals and entities which, after the proposed sale, transfer or assignment, will be franchisees under this Agreement or under any successor agreement) applies to us for acceptance as a franchisee, and furnishes to us the information and references that we request to determine the proposed assignee's skills, qualifications, financial condition, background and history, reputation, economic resources, education, managerial and business experience, moral character, credit rating and ability to assume your duties and obligations under this Agreement and any related agreement. You must pay the costs of any such investigation conducted by us.
- B. That the proposed assignee (or, if an entity, each and every owner or guarantor of the proposed assignee) presents itself for a personal interview at our corporate office, or any other location we designate, at the date and time we reasonably request, without expense to us. We may determine to meet with your proposed assignee at his, her or its principal
- place of business or residence and, if we do, you will reimburse us for all travel, lodging, meal and personal expenses related to such meeting.
- C. That the proposed assignee has the organizational, managerial and financial structure, financial resources and capital required to conduct the franchised Business in accordance with such standards and the satisfaction of such conditions as we indicate from time to time, taking into account such factors (among others) as the number of Restaurants and market areas involved and their geographic proximity.
- D. That the proposed assignee comply with our ownership requirements relative to the control of the proposed assignee and the franchised Business.
- E. That the proposed assignee and/or his, her or its proposed Operating Principal attend and receive certification in safe food handling from a state-approved food safety program and attend and successfully complete our Initial Training Program or Partner Training Program (as applicable) before the assignment, and any other training that we reasonably require, at the assignee's expense (which will include our then-current training fee and the cost of the trainee's transportation, lodging, food and other living expenses). Each individual undergoing such training must first execute the Confidentiality/Non-Competition Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E. We may waive these requirements if the proposed assignee is one of our existing franchisees in good standing.
- F. That the lessor or sublessor of your Bonchon Restaurant Location consents in writing to the assignment of your lease to the proposed assignee.
- G. That, as of the date of the assignment, you have cured any existing defaults under any provisions of this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with us or our affiliates, and have fully satisfied in all respects all of your accrued and/or then-current monetary and other obligations to us and our affiliates (under this Agreement or otherwise), all sources of financing of your franchised Business and all material sources of supply of your franchised Business.
- H. That the assignee executes a new Bonchon Franchise Agreement, and all other agreements required of new franchisees, in the form and on the terms and conditions we then offer to prospective franchisees, which terms and conditions may vary significantly from this Agreement. The assignee will not be obligated to pay another Initial Franchise Fee under the new Agreement but will be required to pay our then-current fees for furnishing our Initial Training Program and/or Partner Training Program and any other services we are required to furnish under the new Agreement. The term of the new Franchise Agreement will be equal to the balance of the term of this Agreement. The execution of the new Franchise Agreement will terminate this Agreement, except for your guarantees; any of your obligations to us or our affiliates which remain outstanding and/or unsatisfied; and, the post-termination and post-expiration provisions of this Agreement which, by their nature, will survive.
- I.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 92–536)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a proposed assignee seeking to operate a Bonchon franchise must meet several organizational, managerial, and financial requirements. The assignee must apply for acceptance as a franchisee and provide Bonchon with requested information and references to assess their skills, qualifications, financial condition, background, history, reputation, economic resources, education, managerial and business experience, moral character, credit rating, and ability to fulfill the obligations under the franchise agreement. The assignee (and all owners/guarantors, if the assignee is an entity) must attend a personal interview at Bonchon's corporate office or a designated location. The assignee may have to reimburse Bonchon for travel, lodging, meal, and personal expenses related to the meeting.
Furthermore, the proposed assignee needs to demonstrate that they possess the organizational, managerial, and financial structure, resources, and capital necessary to conduct the franchised business according to Bonchon's standards and conditions. They must also comply with Bonchon's ownership requirements concerning control of the assignee and the franchised business. The assignee or their Operating Principal must obtain certification in safe food handling from a state-approved program and successfully complete Bonchon's Initial Training Program or Partner Training Program before the assignment. The assignee will bear the expenses for this training, including training fees and costs related to transportation, lodging, and food. Each individual undergoing training must also sign a Confidentiality/Non-Competition Agreement. Bonchon may waive these requirements if the proposed assignee is an existing franchisee in good standing.
In addition to the above, the lessor or sublessor of the Bonchon Restaurant location must provide written consent to the lease assignment. The assignor (the current franchisee) must cure any existing defaults under the Franchise Agreement or any other agreement with Bonchon or its affiliates and fully satisfy all accrued monetary and other obligations. The assignee must execute a new Bonchon Franchise Agreement with terms and conditions that may differ significantly from the original agreement. The assignee must also acquire all necessary permits, licenses, and authorizations required to operate the franchised business. If the current franchisee can transfer any existing permits or licenses, they must do so after the execution of the new Franchise Agreement. If the proposed assignee is a business entity, Bonchon has the right to require any owners or parties with an interest in the assignee or the location to execute a Guarantee.