Is a Card My Yard franchisee prohibited from operating a Card My Yard business at a site that has not been approved by Card My Yard?
Card_My_Yard Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must identify and secure a site for your Card My Yard business within a non-exclusive Designated Search Area (or at a site within your Protected Area if such area has been agreed upon before you sign your Franchise Agreement). We anticipate that your site will be your home. In reviewing your proposed site, we consider various factors, including the condition of the site, the location of the site, population, and other demographic factors. We must accept the site as meeting our minimum standards (at least 18 feet of wall space with walls at least 8 feet high) before you may begin any construction or renovations or use such site for your Card My Yard business. You cannot place a Card My Yard business at a site we have not first accepted in writing. We anticipate that your site will be your home, so we do not provide franchisees with written site selection guidelines, but if you request (or we deem it appropriate) we will assist you in selecting a site that meets our minimum site standards (at least 18 feet of wall space with walls at least 8 feet high). We generally do not own any premises at which our franchisees operate. (Section III.A. of Franchise Agreement)
If you identify a proposed site for your Card My Yard business that is not your primary residence then you must submit to us in writing a description of the site, evidence that the site satisfies our minimum standards and any other information we may require. We have 15 days after we receive all required information to review and accept or not accept your proposed site and notify you of such acceptance or rejection. If you obtain rights to a site other than your home, you must also obtain our written approval of the final, complete lease or contract for sale for your site prior to your signing, and such document must include a rider in substantially the form of Exhibit G to the Franchise Agreement. If we accept multiple sites, you must notify us within 5 days of our acceptance of the sites of the site that you intend to acquire for the Card My Yard business. Our acceptance of a site does not guarantee
that a Card My Yard business will be profitable or successful at that site. (Section III.A. of Franchise Agreement)
You are solely responsible for locating and obtaining a site for your Card My Yard business that is acceptable to us, and you must do so within 30 days after signing the Franchise Agreement. We have 15 days after we receive all required site information from you to review and approve or reject your proposed site and notify you of such approval or rejection. If you are not able to locate a site that is approved by us within 30 days after signing the Franchise Agreement then you will be in default under the Franchise Agreement, and we may, at our option, terminate such agreement.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 34–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Card My Yard's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from operating a Card My Yard business at a site that has not received prior written approval from Card My Yard. The franchisor reviews proposed sites based on factors such as condition, location, population, and other demographic factors. For a site other than the franchisee's primary residence, the franchisee must submit a written description of the site and evidence that it meets Card My Yard's minimum standards.
Card My Yard has 15 days to review the proposed site after receiving all required information. The franchisee must also obtain Card My Yard's written approval of the final lease or contract of sale, including a specific rider, before signing. If multiple sites are accepted, the franchisee must notify Card My Yard within 5 days of which site they intend to acquire for the business.
If a franchisee fails to locate a site approved by Card My Yard within 30 days after signing the Franchise Agreement, they will be in default, and Card My Yard may terminate the agreement. This site selection process is a critical step for prospective franchisees, as operating from an unapproved location would violate the Franchise Agreement and could lead to termination.