Is a Carls Jr. franchisee required to cooperate with CJR or its designee during inspections, observations, videotaping, product removal, and interviews?

According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to cooperate fully with CJR (Carls Jr. Restaurants) or its designee during inspections, observations, videotaping, product removal, and interviews. This cooperation is part of CJR's right to inspect the franchised restaurant to ensure compliance with the franchise agreement, quality standards, operating procedures, and brand standards.

CJR or its designees have the right to inspect the franchised location, observe and record operations, remove samples for testing, interview personnel and customers, and inspect records at any reasonable time without prior notice. The franchisee must take immediate steps to correct any deficiencies found during these inspections. This includes ceasing the sale of unauthorized items, correcting food safety issues, addressing deficiencies impacting guest safety or the restaurant's ability to conform to operating procedures and brand standards, and stopping the use of non-conforming equipment or materials.

If CJR believes that the deficiencies create an imminent health hazard, it can direct the franchisee to temporarily close the restaurant until the issues are resolved to CJR's satisfaction, following CJR's Closure Policy. This level of oversight is typical in franchising to maintain brand consistency and protect the reputation of the Carls Jr. system.