Where can I find the specific requirements for remaining open for business as a Buns On Fire franchisee?
Buns_On_Fire Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| | Local Advertising and Marketing: One percent (1%) of Gross Revenue. | | H. | | Address for notice to FRANCHISEE shall be at the Restaurant, unless another address is inserted | | here: []. |
ARTICLE I GRANT OF FRANCHISE
1.1 Grant and Protected Territory
Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the Franchisor hereby grants to Franchisee a non-exclusive right to operate a "Buns on Fire" restaurant at the location approved by the Franchisor in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (the "Franchised Business"), and a non-exclusive license to use the Marks in the operation thereof, with all ownership rights in the Marks remaining with Franchisor. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Franchisor shall not establish nor license anyone other than Franchisee to establish any Franchised Business under the System within the territory specified in Exhibit "A" ("Protected Territory").
1.2 Site Selection Timeframe
Unless an approved location was selected by Franchisee at the time this Agreement is executed, Franchisee shall select the location of the Franchised Business, subject to the Franchisor's approval, within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this Agreement.
1.3 No Change of Franchise Location
The franchise location described in Exhibit "A" may not be modified or changed by the Franchisee without Franchisor's prior written approval. The Franchisee must request Franchisor's prior written approval in writing. To modify or change location, the Franchisee must be current in all obligations to Franchisor, whether under this Agreement or any other agreement, and must not be defaulting under this or any other agreement with Franchisor.
In the event that Franchisee's request to modify or change location is approved by the Franchisor, the Franchisee will be required, and must sign, Franchisor's then-current form of the Franchise Agreement. The then-current Franchise Agreement may contain different terms and conditions, for a term that may be equal to the remaining term of this Agreement. Unless we grant you a term that is longer than the remaining term under this Franchise Agreement, you will not be required make an Initial Franchise Fee payment for the relocated Franchised Business. However, you will be required to pay a Relocation Fee of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) to us upon execution of the new Franchise Agreement.
1.4 Rights Reserved to Franchisor
Except as limited by Section 1.1, Franchisor and its affiliates retain all rights to establish and operate Franchised Businesses and to use the Marks outside of Franchisee's Protected Territory, including, without limitation:
(i.) to establish and operate and granting others the rights to establishing and operating a Buns on Fire restaurant or other venues offering and selling premium halal cuisine and other identical, comparable, or related goods and services through the same, similar or dissimilar channels of
- distribution under trade and service marks other than the Marks and under any terms and conditions Franchisor deems appropriate at the sole discretion of the Franchisor;
- (ii.) to produce, offer and sell, and granting others the rights to establishing and operating a Buns on Fire restaurant or other venue offering and selling premium halal cuisine and other identical, comparable, or related goods and services through the same, similar, or dissimilar channels of distribution under the Marks and under any terms and conditions the Franchisor deems appropriate at the sole discretion of the Franchisor;
- (iii.) to operate and granting others the right to operating Buns on Fire restaurants at "Non-Traditional Sites" under any terms and conditions the Franchisor deems appropriate at the sole discretion of the Franchisor, regardless of proximity to the Franchised Business. As used in this Agreement, Non-Traditional Sites shall include, without limitation, military bases, hotels, motels, high schools, and college campuses, airports, subways, train stations, travel plazas, toll roads, beaches, parks and other seasonal facilities, government buildings and establishments, prisons, hospitals, convenience stores, cafeterias, snack bars, trucks, casinos, sports or entertainment venues or stadiums, and retail locations being sublet under a lease to a master concessionaire, whether currently existing or constructed or established subsequent to the date hereof;
- (iv.) to sell products under the Marks at locations other than a franchised business such as grocery stores or other stores which offer packaged products; and
- (v.) to acquire and operate a business operating one or more food services businesses located or operating anywhere.
ARTICLE II DEVELOPMENT AND OPENING OF THE FRANCHISED BUSINESS
2.1 Franchised Business Premises
- (i.) Franchisee shall operate the Franchised Business from a location in the Protected Territory. Franchisee shall acquire or lease within ninety (90) days from the date of execution of this Agreement, an approved premises for the Franchised Business. The Franchisor shall have the right in its sole discretion, to require:
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- Franchisee to execute a Site Addendum Agreement in the form attached hereto;
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- Franchisee to conditionally assign such lease to the Franchisor (with the consent of the lessor, if required) by conditional lease assignment provisions in form annexed to Franchise Agreement as Exhibit "C" in order to secure performance of any and all of Franchisee's liabilities and obligations to the Franchisor; or
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3. That such lease contains substantially the following provisions:
- a. "Anything contained in this lease to the contrary notwithstanding, Lessor agrees that without its consent, this lease and the right, title and interest of the Lessee hereunder may be assigned by the Lessee to SMYA Ventures LLC, an Illinois limited liability company or its designee."
- b. "Lessee hereby agrees that Lessor may, upon the written request of Buns on Fire, disclose to Buns on Fire all reports, information or data in Lessor's possession with respect to sales made in, upon, or from the leased premises."
- c. "Lessor shall give written notice to Buns on Fire (concurrently with the giving of such notice to Lessee) of any default by Lessee under the lease and Buns on Fire shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to cure any such default. Such notice shall be sent to Buns on Fire at its headquarters, or such other address as Buns on Fire may specify in writing to Lessor."
2.2 Approval of Lease Terms
The Franchisor shall have the right to approve any and all of the lease terms for the premises of the Franchised Business.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–200)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buns On Fire's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several factors dictate the requirements for remaining open for business. The franchise agreement grants a non-exclusive right to operate a Buns On Fire restaurant at an approved location. The franchisee must select this location, subject to the Franchisor's approval, within ninety days of the agreement's effective date. The franchisee cannot change the location without prior written approval from Buns On Fire, and to do so, they must be current on all obligations to the franchisor.
To maintain standards of quality and service, Buns On Fire requires franchisees to conduct business and advertising using only the marks designated by the franchisor. Franchisees must get approval for local advertising materials, and Buns On Fire can inspect the franchisee's business, financial books, and operations at reasonable times to ensure proper use of these marks. The franchisee must also maintain high moral and ethical standards to maintain goodwill for the Buns On Fire brand.
Buns On Fire also requires franchisees to adhere to specific operational standards, including selling only approved products that meet the franchisor's specifications. Franchisees must purchase certain equipment and supplies from designated sources. The franchisor can modify the Confidential Operations Manual to improve system standards, protect goodwill, or meet competition, provided these changes are system-wide and do not substantially increase the franchisee's economic burden. These stipulations ensure that Buns On Fire franchisees maintain consistent quality and uphold the brand's reputation.