What must I do before I can inspect a copy of the Carls Jr. OPM before purchasing a franchise?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 7. Provide you electronic access to our confidential and proprietary OPM, which contains information and knowledge that is unique, necessary and material to the Carl's Jr. System. The OPM remains our property. We may revise the contents of the OPM and you agree to comply with each new or changed section. (Franchise Agreement, §9). We will permit you to inspect a copy of the OPM before you purchase a franchise, if you first sign a Confidentiality Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit F.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 42–55)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, before you can inspect a copy of the Operations Procedures Manual (OPM), you must first sign a Confidentiality Agreement. The OPM contains proprietary information that is unique, necessary, and material to the Carls Jr. system. The Confidentiality Agreement is attached as Exhibit F in the FDD.
The OPM remains the property of Carls Jr., and the company retains the right to revise its contents. As a franchisee, you would be obligated to comply with each new or changed section of the OPM. This ensures that all franchisees operate under the most current standards and procedures established by Carls Jr.
This requirement to sign a confidentiality agreement before reviewing the OPM is standard practice in franchising. It protects the franchisor's intellectual property and trade secrets. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Confidentiality Agreement to understand their obligations regarding the use and disclosure of the information contained in the OPM.