When does the initial term of the Carls Jr. franchise agreement terminate, assuming it is not terminated earlier?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Initial Term of this Agreement and the Franchise granted by this Agreement shall begin on the date of this Agreement and terminate at midnight on the day preceding the 20th anniversary of the date the Franchised Restaurant first opened for business, unless this Agreement is terminated at an earlier date pursuant to Section 21. CJR shall complete and forward to Franchisee a Commencement Date Addendum to memorialize the date the Franchised Restaurant first opened for business in the form substantially similar to Appendix F. Franchisee agrees to continuously operate the Franchised Restaurant during the Initial Term,
and in the event of casualty to the Franchised Restaurant that requires its closure, Franchisee must reopen the Franchised Restaurant for business within six months following the event of casualty unless a different time period is agreed to in writing by CJR.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, during the term of this Agreement, Franchisee, through no act or failure to act on its part (except the failure to extend the lease for the Franchised Location through the Initial Term of this Agreement), loses the right to possession of the Franchised Location, the Initial Term shall expire as of the date of the loss of the right to possession. However, if the right to possession is lost through no act or failure to act on Franchisee's part, Franchisee may relocate the Franchised Restaurant (without paying any additional initial franchise fee or transfer fee) at its expense and the Initial Term shall not expire if: (1) CJR accepts the new location; (2) Franchisee constructs and equips a Franchised Restaurant at the new location in accordance with the then-current System Standards and specifications; (3) a Franchised Restaurant at the new location is open to the public for business within 6 months after the loss of possession of the Franchised Location; and (4) Franchisee reimburses CJR for all reasonable expenses actually incurred by CJR in connection with the acceptance of the new location.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 75–76)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial term of the franchise agreement begins on the date of the agreement and concludes at midnight on the day before the 20th anniversary of when the franchised restaurant first opened for business. This is unless the agreement is terminated earlier under Section 21 of the agreement. To formalize the restaurant's opening date, Carls Jr. will provide a Commencement Date Addendum.
Carls Jr. requires franchisees to continuously operate the franchised restaurant throughout the initial term. If a casualty event forces the restaurant to close, the franchisee must reopen it within six months, unless Carls Jr. agrees to a different timeframe in writing.
There is an exception to the standard 20-year term. If the franchisee loses possession of the franchised location through no fault of their own (excluding failure to extend the lease), the initial term will expire on the date of the loss of possession. However, the franchisee can relocate the restaurant without paying an additional franchise fee if Carls Jr. approves the new location, the franchisee meets system standards at the new location, the restaurant reopens within six months, and the franchisee reimburses Carls Jr.'s expenses for approving the new location.