What federal laws might affect my Carls Jr. franchise business that I need to comply with?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Licenses; Permits; Applicable Laws; and Competition. It is your sole and absolute obligation to research all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the operation of your business and to ensure that such operation does not violate any federal, state or local law or regulation. For example, there are various federal laws that could affect your business and that you must comply with such as the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), the CAN-SPAM Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), and other federal and state anti-solicitation laws regulating marketing phone calls; and federal and state laws that regulate data security and privacy (including but not limited to the use, storage, transmission, and disposal of data regardless of media type). Further, you must comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations applicable to the operation of your Restaurant, including health, sanitation, food handling, food preparation, waste disposal, smoking restrictions and advertising and point-of-sale disclosures, including statements concerning the nutritional and dietary characteristics of the food served at your Restaurant. You should consult with your attorney concerning all laws and regulations that may affect your Restaurant operations.
In addition, all newly-developed Carl's Jr. Restaurants must contain a charbroiler. The charbroiler has been the subject of regulation in certain areas of the country, including California where, in some regions, chain-driven charbroilers must have catalytic converters. The possibility exists that other states may require that air pollution control equipment be installed in connection with the use of a charbroiler. You would be expected to comply with these regulations, if applicable to your Restaurant, and pay all costs of installation and maintenance of the control equipment.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for understanding and adhering to all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations that govern their business operations. Several federal laws could impact a Carls Jr. franchise, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures accessibility and prohibits discrimination based on disability. Franchisees must also comply with the CAN-SPAM Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), along with other federal and state anti-solicitation laws that regulate marketing phone calls.
Carls Jr. franchisees must also follow federal and state laws concerning data security and privacy, which cover the use, storage, transmission, and disposal of data, regardless of the media type. Additionally, franchisees need to comply with all local, state, and federal regulations related to restaurant operations. These include laws about health, sanitation, food handling, food preparation, waste disposal, smoking restrictions, and advertising and point-of-sale disclosures, including providing accurate nutritional information about the food served at the Carls Jr. restaurant.
The FDD advises prospective Carls Jr. franchisees to consult with their attorney to ensure they understand and comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, newly developed Carls Jr. restaurants may need to install air pollution control equipment, such as catalytic converters for charbroilers, to comply with local regulations, as is the case in some regions of California. Franchisees are responsible for all costs associated with the installation and maintenance of this equipment.