Is a Churchs Chicken franchisee required to make expenditures related to changes or modifications to the system?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ontents of the Manual, passwords or other digital identifications to any person other than employees of the Franchised Restaurant who need to know its contents. Franchisee may not at any time copy, duplicate, record, or otherwise reproduce any part of the Manual.
- D. Obligation. Franchisee shall at all times operate the Franchised Restaurant in strict conformity with the Manual; maintain the Manual at the Franchised Restaurant; not reproduce the Manual or any part of it; treat the Manual as confidential and proprietary; and disclose the contents of the Manual only to those employees of Franchisee who have a need to know.
7. MODIFICATIONS OF THE SYSTEM
A. Right To Modify. Cajun, in its sole discretion, may from time to time change or modify the System, including modifications to the Manual, the menu and menu formats, the required equipment, the signage, the building and premises of a Church's Restaurant (including the trade dress, décor and color schemes), the presentation of the Proprietary Marks, the adoption of new administrative forms and methods of reporting and of payment of any monies owed to Cajun (including electronic means of reporting and
payment) and the adoption and use of new or modified Proprietary Marks or copyrighted materials. Franchisee shall accept and use or display in the Franchised Restaurant any such changes or modifications in the System as if they were a part of the System at the time this Agreement was executed, and Franchisee will make such expenditures as the changes or modifications in the System may reasonably require.
- B. Menu Items; Prices. Within 30 days after receipt of notice from Cajun, Franchisee shall begin selling any newly required menu items and cease selling any menu items that are no longer authorized. Franchisee shall offer all authorized food, beverage and merchandise items under the specific name designated by Cajun. Cajun, in its sole discretion, may restrict sales of menu items to certain time periods during the day. Franchisee may establish menu prices in its sole and absolute discretion. Franchisee shall not add or modify any menu item or participate in a test market program without having obtained Cajun's prior approval. Franchisee shall purchase any additional equipment and smallwares as Cajun deems reasonably necessary in connection with new menu items. If Cajun requires Franchisee to begin offering a new menu item that requires the purchase of additional equipment, a reasonable period of time, as determined in the sole discretion of Cajun, shall be provided for the financing, purchase and installation of any such equipment before such new menu items must be offered for sale at the Franchised Restaurant.
- **C.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to accept and implement changes or modifications to the Churchs Chicken system. These modifications can include changes to the manual, menu, equipment, signage, building appearance, and proprietary marks. Franchisees must make expenditures as reasonably required to implement these changes.
Churchs Chicken may also require franchisees to make changes to their website, including domain names, content, and links. The franchisor may also designate the website's form and content or require that Churchs Chicken or a third party hosts the website. The franchisee may be charged a fee for the development, review, approval, or hosting of the website.
Furthermore, Churchs Chicken can elect to use a principal name other than "Church's", "Church's Chicken" or "Church's Texas Chicken" to identify the system. In such a case, the franchisee is required to change all or some items bearing the proprietary marks to the new name within a reasonable period of time, as determined by Churchs Chicken.