Does Burger King grant territories to its U.S. franchisees?
Burger_King Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
imilar goods or services in the future. For example, all four currently offer sandwiches, french fried potatoes, and/or chips, dessert items and beverages.
We do not grant territories to our U.S. franchisees, and there may be now or in the future Tim Hortons® restaurants, Popeyes® restaurants and/or Firehouse Subs® restaurants located in the same market in the U.S. as current or future BURGER KING Restaurants. These Tim Hortons®, Popeyes® restaurants and Firehouse Subs® restaurants could be company-owned, franchised, or both. If there is a conflict between us and a BURGER KING franchisee caused by a Tim Hortons®, Popeyes® or Firehouse Subs® restaurant or between a BURGER KING franchisee and a Tim Hortons®, Popeyes® or Firehouse Subs® franchisee, our management team will attempt to resolve the conflict after taking into account the specific facts of each situation and what is in the best interests of the affected system or systems. However, we are not responsible for resolving conflicts between or among BURGER KING franchisees, or between or among a BURGER KING franchisee and a Tim Hortons®, Popeyes® or Firehouse Subs® franchisee.
Except as previously described in Item 1, neither we nor any of our affiliates have established or presently intend to establish other franchises or company-operated outlets or affiliate-owned outlets selling or leasing similar products or services under a different trade name or trademark. However, we and our affiliates retain the right to do so in the future.
We occasionally look into acquiring chains of restaurants that sell products or provide services similar to those offered by BURGER KING Restaurants. These acquired restaurants might be converted into BURGER KING Restaurants, maintained as a new concept under our marks, or maintained as a separate concept.
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ITEM 13 TRADEMARKS
We grant you the right to operate under the name "BURGER KING" and to use our current trademarks in the operation of your Restaurant. By trademarks, we mean trade names, trade dress, trademarks, service marks and logos used to identify your Restaurant.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 71–74)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Burger King's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Burger King does not typically grant exclusive territories to its U.S. franchisees. The standard Franchise Agreement grants the right to operate a Burger King restaurant at a specific location, without any exclusive area, territory, or protected customer base. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, alternative distribution channels, and competitive brands. Burger King and its affiliates retain the right to use other distribution channels, such as the Internet, to make sales within any territory granted to a franchisee.
However, Burger King may occasionally grant Development Agreements, which include a geographic area or "Territory" where the franchisee must develop restaurants. Even with a Development Agreement, the territory is not exclusive, and franchisees may still face competition from various sources. Burger King retains sole discretion to decide whether and on what terms to offer additional franchise rights to any franchisee. Burger King also granted the Army & Air Force Exchange Service division of the U.S. military the right to develop, and to grant concessions to other Burger King franchisees to develop, Restaurants on their U.S. military establishments, adjacent housing and support areas.
Furthermore, Burger King's affiliates also operate other restaurant brands like Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs. Burger King does not grant territories to its U.S. franchisees, and there may be Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and/or Firehouse Subs restaurants located in the same market as Burger King restaurants. These restaurants could be company-owned, franchised, or both. Burger King's management team will attempt to resolve conflicts between Burger King franchisees and these other brands, but Burger King is not responsible for resolving these conflicts.