Where in the Checkersrallys FDD receipts section can I find information about 'Restrictive Covenants'?
Checkersrallys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
6. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
- 6.01 Confidential Information.
We will disclose parts of our Confidential Information solely for your use in the operation of the business contemplated by this agreement.
The Confidential Information is proprietary and includes our trade secrets.
During and after the Term: (a) you may not use the Confidential Information in any other business or capacity (as you hereby acknowledge that such prohibited use would be an unfair method of competition); (b) you must exert your best efforts to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information, regardless of its format or medium of transmission to you; (c) you may not make unauthorized copies of any portion of the Confidential Information; and (d) you must implement all commercially reasonable procedures we prescribe at any time and from time to time to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information, including requiring your managers and assistant managers, and any other of your personnel who attends training or who has the ability to access our Confidential Information, to sign nondisclosure agreements in a form we prescribe or approve and delivering those agreements to us.
- 6.02 In-Term Covenants.
You acknowledge that we have granted you the franchise in consideration of, and reliance upon, your agreement to deal exclusively with us.
You therefore agree that, during the Term and any successor franchise term, neither you, any of your Owners, nor any of your or your Owners' Immediate Family will (without our prior consent, which consent we may condition or withhold for any or no reason):
(a) have any direct or indirect controlling or non-controlling ownership interest as an owner – whether of record, beneficially, or otherwise – in a Competitive Business, wherever located or operating (except that equity ownership of less than five percent (5%) of a Competitive Business whose stock or other forms of ownership interest are publicly traded on a recognized United States stock exchange will not be deemed to violate this subparagraph);
(b) perform services as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, or agent for a Competitive Business, wherever located or operating;
(c) divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business or customer of any Checkers or Rally's-branded restaurant to a Competitive Business; or
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
9. EFFECT OF TERMINATION AND EXPIRATION.
- 9.01 Continuing Obligations. All obligations under this Agreement which expressly or by their nature survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until they are satisfied in full or by their nature expire.
- 9.02 Post-Term Covenants. For a period of 2 years, starting on the effective date of termination or expiration (without renewal or extension of the Term) of this Agreement, you are prohibited from directly or indirectly (such as through an Immediate Family member) owning a legal or beneficial interest in, or render services or give advice to: (a) any Competitive Business operating within the Development Area; (b) any Competitive Business operating within a radius of three (3) miles of any "Checkers" or "Rally's"-branded restaurant in operation or under construction on the effective date of termination or expiration; or (c) any entity which grants franchises, licenses or other interests to others to operate any Competitive Business. You acknowledge that we have a protectable legal interest in the System, customers of Restaurants and the goodwill associated with the Marks and that the non-competition covenants contained in this Section and Section 6.02 are necessary elements to their protection and are an integral part of this Agreement. You and each of your Owners expressly acknowledge the possession of skills and abilities of a general nature and other opportunities for exploiting such skills, so that enforcement of the covenants contained in this Section will not deprive you of your personal goodwill or ability to earn a living. If you fail or refuse to abide by any of the foregoing covenants, and we obtain enforcement in a judicial or arbitration proceeding, the obligations under the breached covenant will be tolled during the period(s) of time that the covenant is breached and/or we seek to enforce it, and will continue in effect for a period of 2 years after the date of order enforcing the covenant.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 92–384)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Checkersrallys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 23, which covers receipts, contains information regarding restrictive covenants in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 9.02. Section 6.01 discusses confidential information, specifying that franchisees must maintain the confidentiality of Checkersrallys's trade secrets and proprietary information both during and after the term of the agreement. This section also requires franchisees to implement procedures to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information, including having managers and assistant managers sign non-disclosure agreements. Section 6.02 outlines in-term covenants, stating that franchisees agree to deal exclusively with Checkersrallys during the term and any successor term.
The in-term covenants also prevent the franchisee, their owners, or their immediate family from having any direct or indirect ownership interest in a competitive business, performing services for a competitive business, or diverting business from Checkersrallys to a competitive business without prior consent. An exception exists for equity ownership of less than 5% in a publicly traded competitive business. Section 9.02 details post-term covenants, which apply for two years after the termination or expiration of the franchise agreement.
These post-term covenants prohibit the franchisee from owning or rendering services to a competitive business within the Development Area or within a three-mile radius of any Checkersrallys restaurant. The FDD emphasizes that these non-competition covenants are essential to protect Checkersrallys's interests in its system, customers, and goodwill. It also states that enforcement of these covenants will not deprive the franchisee of their ability to earn a living, acknowledging their general skills and other opportunities. If a franchisee breaches these covenants, the obligations will be tolled during the breach and continue for two years after an enforcement order.