Does the Card My Yard general release cover liabilities?

According to Card My Yard's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a general release is required from the franchisee and their owners upon renewal of the franchise agreement. Specifically, the franchisee and their owners must execute a general release of any and all claims against Card My Yard, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, partners, members, agents, representatives, independent contractors, servants, and employees, past and present, in their corporate and individual capacities.

This release includes, without limitation, claims arising under the Franchise Agreement or under federal, state, or local laws, rules, regulations, or orders. This means that as a condition of renewing their franchise agreement, a franchisee must waive their rights to sue Card My Yard for any reason.

This requirement is fairly common in franchise agreements, as it protects the franchisor from potential legal claims that could arise from the franchisee's operation of the business. However, franchisees should carefully consider the implications of signing such a release, as it could prevent them from pursuing legal action against Card My Yard in the future, even for issues that are not yet known or apparent.