What rights does Checkers reserve in the franchise agreement that could affect a franchisee's interests?
Checkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ies of the Protected Area pursuant to this Section, we are authorized to amend this Agreement to reflect such modification. You and we hereby agree that upon the amendment of this Agreement by us in accordance with this Section, the particular geographic area identified thereon shall be deemed the Protected Area under this Agreement.
2.03 Our Reservation of Rights. Except as expressly limited by Section 2.02 above, we and our Affiliates (and our respective successors and assigns, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) retain all rights and discretion with respect to the Marks, the System, the sale of products and services similar or dissimilar to those offered by "Checkers" and "Rally's"-branded restaurants, and the operation or franchising of "Checkers" and "Rally's"-branded restaurants anywhere located or to be located, and may engage in any business activities whatsoever, within or outside the Protected Area, whenever and wherever we desire. Specifically, by way of example and without limitation, we reserve the following rights: (a) to establish and operate, and grant to others the right to operate, "Checkers" and "Rally's"-branded restaurants at locations outside the Protected Area, on such terms and conditions as we deem appropriate (you acknowledge that such "Checkers" and "Rally's"-branded restaurants may be in direct competition with your Franchised Restaurant, without regard to any adverse effects of such activities on your Franchised Restaurant and without any obligation or liability to you); (b) to establish and operate, and grant to others the right to operate, "Checkers" and "Rally's"branded restaurants, or other restaurants using any part or all of the System and/or Marks, that are located at or operated from Non-Traditional Sites within or outside the Protected Area; (c) to sell any products or services under the Marks or under any other trademarks, service marks or trade dress, through alternative channels of distribution, wherever located or operating (including, without limitation, the internet or similar electronic media and supermarkets); (d) to establish and operate, and grant to others the right to operate, restaurants identified by trademarks, service marks or trade dress, other than the Marks (including the INSERT BRAND: "Checkers"/"Rally's" name and mark), pursuant to such terms and conditions as we
deem appropriate and wherever such restaurants are located; (e) to acquire the assets or ownership interests of one or more businesses providing products and services similar or dissimilar to those provided at "Checkers" and "Rally's"-branded restaurants, and to franchise, license or create similar arrangements with respect to these businesses once acquired, and which businesses we may (at our sole discretion, and without obligation) convert, or allow to be converted, to operations as "Checkers" or "Rally's"-branded restaurants using any of the Marks and/or the System, wherever these businesses (or the franchisees or licensees of these businesses) are located or operating (including in the Protected Area, if applicable); and (f) to be acquired (whether through acquisition of assets, ownership interests or otherwise, regardless of the form of transaction), by a business providing products and services similar to those provided at "Checkers" or "Rally's"-branded restaurants, or by another business, even if such business operates, franchises and/or licenses Competitive Businesses in the Protected Area.
You acknowledge and agree that, except as expressly granted to you in Section 2.02 hereof, your rights hereunder are non-exclusive and you have no rights under this Agreement to participate in or benefit from any other business activity we or our Affiliate may undertake, regardless of whether such activity involves the Marks or the System. You waive, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, all claims, demands, or causes of action arising from or relating to any of the foregoing activities by us or any of our Affiliates in connection with our reserved rights under this Section 2.03.
3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRANCHISED RESTAURANT.
3.01 Site Acceptance Disclaimer. You acknowledge and agree that, if we suggest, approve, or give you information regarding a site for the Premises, our action is not a representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, of the site's suitability for a Restaurant or any other purpose. We do not represent that we, or any of our Affiliates, owners, employees or agents, have special expertise in selecting sites. Our action indicates only that we believe that the site meets our then acceptable criteria and not that the Franchised Restaurant will be profitable or successful at the Premises. Applying criteria that have appeared effective with other sites and premises might not accurately reflect the potential for all sites and premises, and demographic and/or other factors included in or excluded from our criteria could change, altering the potential of a site and premises. The uncertainty and instability of these criteria are beyond our control, and we are not responsible if a site and premises we suggest or approve for the location of a Restaurant fails to meet your expectations. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that your acceptance of the franchise for a Restaurant pursuant to this Agreement is based on your own independent investigation of the site's suitability for the Premises.
In consideration of our acceptance of the Premises, you and your Owners release us, and our Affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all loss, damage and liability arising from or in connection with the selection and/or acceptance of the Premises for development as a Restaurant.
Selection of Premises.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 91–92)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Checkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Checkers retains significant rights that could impact a franchisee's business. Checkers has the right to operate or franchise Checkers or Rally's restaurants outside of a franchisee's protected area, potentially creating direct competition. They can also establish restaurants at non-traditional sites, sell products through alternative channels like the internet or supermarkets, and operate restaurants under different brands, all without obligation or liability to the franchisee. These rights allow Checkers to pursue various business strategies, even if they adversely affect an individual franchisee's restaurant.
Checkers also reserves the right to acquire other businesses, including those that compete with Checkers or Rally's, and convert them to Checkers or Rally's restaurants, even within a franchisee's protected area. Furthermore, Checkers can be acquired by a business that operates or franchises competing businesses, even in the franchisee's protected area. The franchisee acknowledges that their rights are non-exclusive and they cannot claim benefits from Checkers' other business activities. The franchisee waives any claims against Checkers or its affiliates related to these reserved rights.
Additionally, Checkers retains the right to make decisions and changes to the System that may affect a franchisee's interests, as long as those decisions are not specifically prohibited in the franchise agreement. Checkers can base these decisions on their judgment of what is in their best interests or the best interests of the franchise network, without considering whether the decision is adverse to an individual franchisee's interests. Overall, these reserved rights provide Checkers with considerable flexibility in managing and expanding the brand, but they also introduce potential risks and competitive pressures for franchisees.