Will Chesters select or designate a restaurant site for the franchisee?
Chesters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Although we have the right to accept or reject a Restaurant's location, we will not select or designate a Restaurant site for you. Therefore, you must actively conduct the site-selection process. You have sole risk for your location's business and financial suitability. As noted above, we will not sign the Agreement if you have not yet located the Restaurant's site.
We anticipate that it takes approximately 2 to 4 months after the Agreement is signed and you pay the training fee before the Restaurant is ready to open. Factors affecting this timeframe include construction and remodeling schedules; local ordinance and/or building code compliance; schedules for installing equipment and signs; completing brand standard training programs; delivering and stocking inventory; and other events beyond your control. You must open the Restaurant for business within 180 days after signing the Agreement.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 24–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chesters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Chesters will not select or designate a restaurant site for the franchisee. However, Chesters does provide site-selection criteria for a Restaurant, including factors such as visibility from traffic arteries, ease of street access, population density and income levels, the rental market, nearby businesses, leasehold improvement costs, and proximity to other Chesters locations. Chesters must approve the franchisee's chosen site before the franchise agreement is signed, even if the franchisee has already picked out a location.
Chesters will evaluate the information provided by the franchisee about the site, which may or may not include a physical site inspection. While Chesters will not unreasonably withhold acceptance of a site, they can reject one they consider inappropriate. The franchisee bears the sole risk for the business and financial suitability of the location. The franchise agreement will not be signed until the restaurant site is secured.
The FDD states that it typically takes approximately 2 to 4 months after signing the agreement and paying the training fee before the restaurant is ready to open. This timeframe depends on factors like construction, remodeling, compliance with local ordinances, equipment installation, training completion, and inventory stocking. The franchisee must open the restaurant for business within 180 days after signing the agreement.