If Chatime materially breaches the franchise agreement, how long does the franchisee have to provide written notice of termination?
Chatime Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Provision | Section in Franchise | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement (FA) and Multi-Unit Development Agreement (MDA) | ||
| a. Length of the | FA: §1.1(27) | The term is ten years. |
| franchise term | ||
| MDA: §1.1(34) | The period ending the end date of the agreed Development Period. . | |
| b. Renewal or extension of the term | FA: §1.1(40); §2.6 | At the end of the initial term of your Franchise Agreement, we may grant you the option to continue operating as a franchisee in your Territory and to enter into a new Franchise Agreement for a renewal term of ten years. |
| MDA: § 2.7 | At the end of the initial term of your Franchise Agreement, you may request to enter into an additional term of ten years under the terms of our then-current form of multi-unit development agreement, which may contain different terms | |
| u. Dispute resolution by arbitration or mediation | §16 | Except as otherwise provided, all disputes and claims relating to your Franchise Agreement or the relationship of the parties must be settled by mediation or arbitration in New York in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) mediation and arbitration service. These provisions are subject to state law. |
| MDA: §14 | Except as otherwise provided, all disputes and claims relating to your MDA or the relationship of the parties must be settled by mediation or arbitration in New York in accordance with the rules of the AAA mediation and arbitration service. These provisions are subject to state law | |
| v. Choice of forum | §16 | Arbitration in New York in accordance with the rules of the AAA service. These provisions are subject to state law. |
| MDA: §14 | Arbitration in New York in accordance with the rules of the AAA service. These provisions are subject to state law. | |
| w. Choice of law | §25.1 | Delaware law. These provisions are subject to state law. |
| MDA: §23.16 | Delaware law. These provisions are subject to state law | |
| d. Termination by franchisee | FA: §15.1; §15.2 | You may terminate your Franchise Agreement if (i) you give us written notice of termination within seven days after execution, or (ii) you are in substantial compliance with the Franchise Agreement, we materially breach the Franchise Agreement, you notify us of such breach and give us at least 60 days to remedy the breach, we do not timely remedy the breach or we fail to show continuing efforts to correct the breach, and you provide 60 days' written notice of termination. These provisions are subject to state law. |
Source: Item 17 — Renewal, Termination, Transfer, and Dispute Resolution (FDD pages 43–52)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chatime's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can terminate the Franchise Agreement if they are in substantial compliance with the agreement and Chatime materially breaches it. In this case, the franchisee must first notify Chatime of the breach and give them at least 60 days to remedy it. If Chatime does not fix the breach or demonstrate ongoing efforts to correct it within that 60-day period, the franchisee can then provide Chatime with a 60-day written notice of termination.
This means that if Chatime breaches the agreement, a franchisee must wait at least 60 days for Chatime to fix the issue before taking further action. If the breach is not remedied, the franchisee must then provide an additional 60 days' notice before the termination becomes effective. Therefore, the entire process, from initial notification to termination, will take a minimum of 120 days.
It is important for prospective Chatime franchisees to understand these termination conditions, as they outline the steps and timeframes required if Chatime fails to uphold its obligations under the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees should also be aware that these provisions are subject to state law, which may introduce additional requirements or limitations.