For the Carls Jr. Travel Center Program, what is the latest date the Development Agreement can be dated?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- B. To be eligible for the Travel Center Program, the following requirements must be satisfied: (i) the Carl's Jr. Restaurant must be located at a travel center location or gas and convenience location that is within ½ mile of an interstate or limited access highway and must include a combination of high rise pylon sign, billboard or other highway sign, (ii) the travel center location or gas and convenience location must be opened pursuant to a Development Agreement dated no later than May 24, 2026, (iii) Franchisee must open the Franchise Restaurants from a travel center location or gas and convenience location by the date(s) outlined in the corresponding Development Agreement, (iv) Franchisee may not be in default of its obligations under its existing franchise agreements or related agreements with CJR or its affiliates, (v) Franchisee must be approved for growth by CJR and its affiliates, (vi) Franchisee must satisfy CJR's then-current financial and operational requirements for new restaurant development, and (vii) Franchisee and the Carl's Jr. Restaurant(s) otherwise meet the requirements of the Travel Center Program.
Source: Item 21 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (FDD page 75)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, to be eligible for the Travel Center Program, the Development Agreement must be dated no later than May 24, 2026. This program is designed to stimulate the development of new franchised Carls Jr. restaurants at eligible travel center and gas and convenience locations.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that to take advantage of the incentives offered under the Travel Center Program, the Development Agreement for their Carls Jr. restaurant must be finalized and dated on or before May 24, 2026. Meeting this deadline is a critical condition for eligibility.
Carls Jr. also stipulates other requirements for eligibility in the Travel Center Program, including specific location criteria (proximity to interstates and inclusion of signage), adherence to the development agreement's opening dates, compliance with existing franchise obligations, approval for growth by CJR, and satisfaction of financial and operational requirements. Therefore, franchisees need to ensure they meet all these criteria in addition to the Development Agreement deadline to qualify for the program.