What are my responsibilities regarding construction plans and specifications for a Carls Jr. restaurant?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
5. Furnish you with prototypical plans and specifications for a Carl's Jr. Restaurant, including requirements for dimensions, design image, interior layout, décor, fixtures, equipment, signs, furnishings, storefront and color scheme. (Development Agreement, § 6). It will be your responsibility to have prepared all required construction plans and specifications to suit the shape and dimensions of the location of your Franchised Restaurant ("Franchised Location"), and you must ensure that these plans and specifications comply with applicable ordinances, building codes and permit requirements and with lease requirements and restrictions. You must use only registered architects, registered engineers, and professional and licensed contractors.
We will review the construction plans for the proposed Franchised Restaurant and notify you within 30 days after we receive the plans, or such longer period as we require, whether the plans are approved. (Franchise Agreement, §4.B.).
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, franchisees are responsible for creating construction plans and specifications for their franchised restaurant location. Carls Jr. will furnish prototypical plans and specifications, including requirements for dimensions, design image, interior layout, décor, fixtures, equipment, signs, furnishings, storefront, and color scheme. However, it is the franchisee's responsibility to adapt these prototypical plans to the specific location.
The franchisee must ensure that the construction plans and specifications comply with all applicable ordinances, building codes, permit requirements, and lease requirements and restrictions. To ensure quality and compliance, Carls Jr. requires franchisees to use only registered architects, registered engineers, and professional and licensed contractors for this work.
Carls Jr. retains the right to review and approve the franchisee's construction plans. The document states that Carls Jr. will notify the franchisee within 30 days after receiving the plans, or a longer period if required, whether the plans are approved. This review process helps ensure that the franchisee's restaurant aligns with the brand's standards and complies with all necessary regulations.