Under what conditions can a Casiola franchisee terminate the franchise agreement?
Casiola Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- (4) Franchisee may only operate the Franchised Business within Franchisee's Operating Market and, without limitation to the foregoing, Franchisee may only offer and sell the Approved Services and Products within Franchisee's Operating Market from Franchisor designated and authorized Service Vehicles, the System standards designated by Franchisor, and in accordance with the requirements designated by Franchisor in the Operations Manual;
- (5) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement including, but not limited to, the Reserved Rights and Closed Markets, provided that, at all times, Franchisee is and remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisor will not and Franchisor's affiliates will not operate, or grant a franchisee the right to operate a Casiola Business using the Licensed Marks and System within Franchisee's Operating Market, provided that an Operating Market has been designated and approved by Franchisor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and
- (6) The foregoing rights granted in this Article 2.A. are subject to and contingent upon each and every, term and condition of this Agreement, the rights of any prior user, and are non-exclusive and subordinate to the Reserved Rights.
2.B. TERM
Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the term of this Agreement will be for a period of five consecutive years, commencing from the Effective Date (the "Term").
2.C. GUARANTY, CONFIDENTIALITY AND RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
If Franchisee is, at any time, a Corporate Entity, Franchisee agrees that each Owner shall execute, sign and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner Agreement and Guaranty attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1 and, in doing so, among other things, will individually, jointly, and severally, guarantee Franchisee's obligations under this Agreement and personally bind themselves to confidentiality and non-competition covenants and restrictions.
2.D. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
ARTICLE 17 OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION
17.A. PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS OWED TO FRANCHISOR
Without limitation as to any other Article or provision of this Agreement, upon expiration or termination of this Agreement for any reason, Franchisee shall immediately pay to Franchisor all sums and fees due from Franchisee to Franchisor under the terms of this Agreement including, but not limited to Royalty Fees and Advertising Contributions and all other sums and fees due from Franchisee to Franchisor and/or Franchisor affiliates and/or suppliers for products and services including, but not limited to, System Supplies.
17.B. CEASE OPERATIONS AND PROTECTION OF THE SYSTEM
Upon expiration, termination, or Transfer of this Agreement for any reason, Franchisee shall immediately:
(1) Permanently cease to be a franchise owner of the Casiola Business that was the subject of this Agreement and cease to operate such Casiola Business under the System, except as directed by Franchisor in writing and related to Franchisee's performance and completion of Wind-Down Activities as designated and determined by Franchisor in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment;
(2) Refrain from directly or indirectly, holding oneself/itself out to any person or entity, or represent themselves/itself as a present or former Casiola franchisee, except as directed by Franchisor in writing and related to Franchisee's performance and completion of Wind-Down Activities as designated and determined by Franchisor in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment;
Item 17, "Renewal, Termination, Transfer and Dispute Resolution," Item 17(h) is supplemented by the addition of the following:
Under Section 13.1-564 of the Virginia Retail Franchising Act, it is unlawful for a franchisor to cancel a franchise without reasonable cause. If any grounds for default or termination stated in Casiola Franchise Agreement do not constitute "reasonable cause," as that term may be defined in the Virginia Retail Franchising Act or the laws of Virginia, that provision may not be enforceable.
Your rights upon termination and non-renewal of a Franchise Agreement are set forth in Sections 19 and 20 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act.
Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act Provides that any condition, stipulation or provision purporting to bind any person acquiring any franchise to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, or any other law of Illinois is void.
Amendments to the Casiola Franchise Agreement:
In recognition of the requirements of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, 815 ILCS 705/1 to 705/45, and Ill. Admin. Code tit. 15, §200.100 et seq., the undersigned agree to the following modifications to Casiola Franchise LLC Franchise Agreement (the "Franchise Agreement") and, if Franchisor and Franchisee both sign Casiola Franchise LLC, as follows:
- Article 18.F. of the Franchise Agreement, under the heading "Governing Law", shall be amended by the addition of the following statement added after the end of the last sentence of Article 18.F. of the Franchise Agreement:
Illinois Addendum: Illinois law governs the agreements between the parties to this franchise.
Section 4 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act Provides that any provision in a Franchise Agreement that designates jurisdiction or venue outside the State of Illinois is void. However, a Franchise Agreement may provide for arbitration in a venue outside Illinois.
Your rights upon termination and non-renewal of a Franchise Agreement are set forth in Sections 19 and 20 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act.
Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act Provides that any condition, stipulation or provision purporting to bind any person acquiring any franchise to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, or any other law of Illinois is void.
Amendments to the Casiola Franchise Agreement:
In recognition of the North Dakota Franchise Investment Law, Section 51-19, the parties to the attached Casiola Franchise LLC Franchise Agreement (the "Franchise Agreement") agree as follows:
The North Dakota Addendum is only applicable if you are a resident of North Dakota or if your Casiola Business will be located within the State of North Dakota.
Article 16 of the Franchise Agreement is hereby amended by the addition of the following language: "Provisions requiring North Dakota franchisees to consent to termination or liquidated damages are not enforceable in North Dakota."
Amendments to the Casiola Franchise Agreement:
In recognition of the requirements of the Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 80C. and Minnesota Franchise Rules, Chapter 2860, the parties to the attached Casiola Franchise LLC Franchise Agreement (the "Franchise Agreement"), as follows:
Minnesota law provides a franchisee with certain termination and non-renewal rights. Minn. Stat. Sect. 80C.14 Subdivisions 3, 4, and 5 require, except in certain specified cases, that franchisee be given 180 days-notice of nonrenewal of this Agreement by Franchisor.
RCW 19.100.180 may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
There may also be court decisions which may supersede the franchise agreement in your relationship with the franchisor including the areas of termination and renewal of your franchise.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 47–209)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
Based on the 2024 Casiola Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement term is five years unless terminated earlier according to the agreement's terms. Upon termination, the franchisee must immediately pay all outstanding sums and fees to Casiola, including royalty fees, advertising contributions, and payments for products and services such as system supplies. The franchisee must also cease operating the Casiola business under the Casiola system, except as directed in writing by Casiola for wind-down activities. The franchisee must refrain from representing themselves as a current or former Casiola franchisee, again, unless directed by Casiola in writing for wind-down activities.
Several state-specific amendments address franchisee rights regarding termination. For instance, in Minnesota, franchisees have certain termination and non-renewal rights under Minn. Stat. Sect. 80C.14 Subdivisions 3, 4, and 5, requiring 180 days' notice of nonrenewal from Casiola in specified cases. The Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act also outlines franchisee rights upon termination and non-renewal in Sections 19 and 20. Furthermore, Section 41 of the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act voids any provision that requires a franchisee to waive compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act or any other Illinois law.
In Virginia, the FDD amendment states that it is unlawful for Casiola to cancel a franchise without reasonable cause, as defined in the Virginia Retail Franchising Act. In Washington, the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act may supersede the franchise agreement in areas of termination and renewal. North Dakota's amendment specifies that provisions requiring franchisees to consent to termination or liquidated damages are not enforceable in North Dakota. These state-specific amendments highlight the importance of understanding the specific legal protections available to franchisees based on their location, as these laws can significantly impact the enforceability of certain termination clauses within the franchise agreement.