factual

If Chocolate Fish Coffee consents to a transfer, can they impose conditions on the transfer?

Chocolate_Fish_Coffee Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

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ARTICLE 15. TRANSFERS

  • 15.1 By Chocolate Fish Franchising. Chocolate Fish Franchising may transfer or assign this Agreement, or any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, to any person or entity, and Chocolate Fish Franchising may undergo a change in ownership and/or control, without the consent of Franchisee.
  • 15.2 By Franchisee. Franchisee acknowledges that the rights and duties set forth in this Agreement are personal to Franchisee and that Chocolate Fish Franchising entered into this Agreement in reliance on Franchisee's business skill, financial capacity, personal character, experience, and business ability. Accordingly, Franchisee shall not conduct or undergo a Transfer without providing Chocolate Fish Franchising at least 60 days prior notice of the proposed Transfer, and without obtaining Chocolate Fish Franchising's consent. In granting any such consent, Chocolate Fish Franchising may impose conditions, including, without limitation, the following:
    • (i) Chocolate Fish Franchising receives a transfer fee equal to $10,000 plus any broker fees and other out-of-pocket costs incurred by Chocolate Fish Franchising;
    • (ii) the proposed assignee and its owners have completed Chocolate Fish Franchising's franchise application processes, meet Chocolate Fish Franchising's then-applicable standards for new franchisees, and have been approved by Chocolate Fish Franchising as franchisees;
    • (iii) the proposed assignee is not a Competitor;
    • (iv) the proposed assignee executes Chocolate Fish Franchising's then-current form of franchise agreement and any related documents, which form may contain materially different provisions than this Agreement (provided, however, that the proposed assignee will not be required to pay an initial franchise fee);

  • (v) all owners of the proposed assignee provide a guaranty in accordance with Section 2.5;
  • (vi) Franchisee has paid all monetary obligations to Chocolate Fish Franchising and its affiliates, and to any lessor, vendor, supplier, or lender to the Business, and Franchisee is not otherwise in default or breach of this Agreement or of any other obligation owed to Chocolate Fish Franchising or its affiliates;
  • (vii) the proposed assignee and its owners and employees undergo such training as Chocolate Fish Franchising may require;

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 41–119)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to Chocolate Fish Coffee's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Chocolate Fish Coffee can impose conditions when granting consent for a franchise transfer. The document states that the franchisee must provide Chocolate Fish Coffee with at least 60 days' notice before any proposed transfer. Chocolate Fish Coffee can then impose conditions when granting consent for the transfer.

The conditions Chocolate Fish Coffee may impose include receiving a transfer fee of $10,000 plus any broker fees and out-of-pocket costs incurred by Chocolate Fish Coffee. Additionally, the proposed assignee and their owners must complete Chocolate Fish Coffee's franchise application process, meet the then-applicable standards for new franchisees, and be approved by Chocolate Fish Coffee as franchisees. The proposed assignee must not be a competitor of Chocolate Fish Coffee.

Further conditions include the proposed assignee executing Chocolate Fish Coffee's then-current form of franchise agreement and related documents, which may contain materially different provisions than the original agreement. However, the proposed assignee will not be required to pay an initial franchise fee. All owners of the proposed assignee must provide a guaranty. The franchisee must have paid all monetary obligations to Chocolate Fish Coffee and its affiliates, as well as to any lessor, vendor, supplier, or lender to the business, and not be in default or breach of the agreement. The proposed assignee and its owners and employees must undergo such training as Chocolate Fish Coffee may require. Finally, the franchisee, its owners, and the transferee and its owners must execute a general release of Chocolate Fish Coffee in a form satisfactory to Chocolate Fish Coffee, and the business must fully comply with all of Chocolate Fish Coffee's most recent System Standards.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.