factual

What happens to the Browns Chicken franchise upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement?

Browns_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

company and all listing agencies to transfer same to Brown or its designee, should Franchisee fail or refuse to do so, and the telephone company and all listing agencies may accept such direction or this Agreement, as conclusive of the exclusive rights of Brown in such telephone numbers and directory listings and its authority to direct their transfer.

D. Termination Of Sublease/Assignment of Lease.

Upon termination or expiration of the Franchise, unless the Franchise is terminated by Franchisee for cause, the sublease from Brown to the Franchisee, if any, for the Premises of the Store, shall automatically terminate, or if Franchisee is the lessee of the Premises, Brown shall have the right to require Franchisee to assign its lease for the Premises to Brown or Brown's designee.

E. Restriction On Competition.

If the Franchise expires, is not renewed or is terminated prior to its expiration for any reason, Franchisee agrees that for a period of eighteen (18) months commencing on the effective

date of expiration or termination of the Franchise, or the date on which Franchisee ceases to conduct the business conducted pursuant to this Agreement, whichever is later, it will not:

  • (1) engage, directly or indirectly, as an owner (except of publicly-traded securities), partner, director, officer, employee, consultant, lessor, lender, representative or agent, or in any other capacity in a retail food service business featuring cooked chicken, pasta, or sandwiches, and which is located within five (5) miles of the Store or any BROWN's Store, or in any entity which is granting franchises or licenses for retail food service businesses featuring cooked chicken, pasta or sandwiches; or
  • (2) lease, let or sublease any real property or personal property to any person, corporation, partnership or any other entity engaged directly or indirectly in any retail food service business featuring cooked chicken, pasta or sandwiches located within five (5) miles of the Store or any BROWN's Store.

To the extent that this Paragraph E of Section 21 is deemed unenforceable by virtue of its scope in terms of area or length of time or activity restrained, but may be made enforceable by reduction of any or all thereof, Franchisee and Brown agree that the same shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in the jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.

F. Continuing Obligations.

All obligations of Brown and Franchisee which expressly or by their nature survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect subsequent to and notwithstanding its expiration or termination and until they are satisfied in full or by their nature expire.

G. Brown's Option to Purchase.

(1) If this Agreement expires (without renewal) or is terminated by Brown in accordance with its provisions or by Franchisee without cause, then Brown shall have the option, exercisable by giving written notice thereof within sixty (60) days from the date of such expiration or termination, to purchase from Franchisee any or all the tangible assets (including, without limitation, inventory of saleable products, equipment, fixtures, furniture, signs, cash registers, modems, fax machines, computers, leasehold improvements and any other assets of the Store owned by Franchisee, but excluding any unamortized portion of the initial franchise fee, cash, goodwill, short-term investments and accounts receivable) of the Store (collectively, the "Purchased Assets") and to an assignment of Franchisee's lease for (a) the premises of the Store (or, if an assignment is prohibited, a sublease for the full remaining term and on the same terms and conditions as Franchisee's lease) and (b) any other tangible assets used in connection with the Store. Brown may exclude from the assets purchased any items that Brown determines are not reasonably necessary (in function or quality) to the Store's operation or that Brown has not approved as meeting its standards for BROWN's Stores, and the purchase price will reflect these exclusions.Brown shall have the unrestricted right to assign this option to

purchase and assignment of leases separate and apart from the remainder of this Agreement.

  • (2) The purchase price for the Store (except for the signage, the purchase price of which is $100) shall be either, at Brown's option: (a) the Book Value (as defined below) of the Purchased Assets, or (b) the fair market value of the Purchased Assets, as determined by a neutral appraiser. Both Brown and the Franchisee shall select an appraiser, whose sole function would be to select a third, neutral appraiser, who would determine the fair market value of the Purchased Assets. The fees and costs of the neutral appraiser shall be shared equally by Brown and Franchisee. "Book Value" shall mean the net book value of the Purchased Assets, as disclosed by the balance sheet of the last monthly statement of the Store required to have been submitted to Brown pursuant to Paragraph 12.B. hereof prior to such termination or expiration, provided, however, that: (1) each depreciable asset shall be valued as if it had been depreciated on a "straight-line" basis from the date of its acquisition over its Useful Life (defined below) without provision for salvage value; and (2) Brown may exclude from the Purchased Assets any inventory, equipment, fixtures, furniture, signs, cash registers, modems, fax machines, computers, or leasehold improvements of the Store that have not been acquired in compliance with this Agreement. No value shall be attributed to goodwill of the Store, the assignment of lease (or sublease) for the premises of the Store, or the assignment of any lease for any other tangible assets used in connection with the Store, and Brown shall not be required to pay any separate consideration for any such assignment or sublease.

Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD page 43)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Browns Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several obligations and restrictions are placed on the franchisee upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement.

First, the franchisee must pay all outstanding royalties, service fees, advertising contributions, rent (if applicable), and other charges to Browns Chicken and its affiliates within 15 days of termination or expiration. The franchisee must also cease using any confidential information and return all copies of the operating manual and other confidential materials to Browns Chicken.

Additionally, the franchisee is restricted from engaging in a similar retail food service business featuring cooked chicken, pasta, or sandwiches within a five-mile radius of the Browns Chicken store for a period of 18 months. This restriction applies if the franchise expires, is not renewed, or is terminated early for any reason. Browns Chicken also has the option to purchase the tangible assets of the store, including inventory, equipment, and leasehold improvements, within 60 days of termination or expiration. If the franchisee subleases the premises from Browns Chicken, the sublease automatically terminates unless the termination was due to a cause initiated by the franchisee.

If the franchisee continues to operate the Browns Chicken business after the franchise term expires without a renewal agreement, Browns Chicken can treat the agreement as expired, or allow the franchise to continue on a month-to-month basis. In either case, the franchisee is obligated to pay a weekly royalty fee of 7% of the store's gross sales.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.