Is a Checkers franchisee required to participate in Checkers' market research programs?

According to Checkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to participate in Checkers' market research programs. Checkers may conduct market research to determine consumer trends and the salability of new food products and services. Franchisees must participate in these programs by test marketing new food products and services in their restaurants. They also need to provide Checkers with timely reports and other relevant information regarding the market research.

This participation includes purchasing a reasonable quantity of the test products and making a reasonable effort to sell them in their restaurants. This requirement ensures that Checkers can gather comprehensive data on new products and services across various locations, helping them make informed decisions about potential menu changes and marketing strategies.

For a prospective franchisee, this means being prepared to allocate resources to test marketing new items, including the cost of purchasing the test products and the effort involved in promoting and selling them. It also means being ready to provide feedback and data to Checkers in a timely manner. While this participation is mandatory, it offers the benefit of being among the first to introduce new items and potentially capitalize on successful products before they are widely released.