Where can I find more detailed information about my obligations as a Circle K franchisee?
Circle_K Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
mmediate termination and, if terminated, Franchisee will be required to comply with all of the post-termination obligations hereunder, including but not limited to the payment of liquidated damages as well as the unamortized portion of any funding provided by Franchisor.
ARTICLE 9 CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS MANUALS AND OTHER INFORMATION
- 9.1 Compliance with Business Systems Manuals. Franchisor will provide Franchisee with one copy of Franchisor's business systems manuals, including but not limited to the Store Guides and Operations and Reference Manuals (collectively, the "Business Systems Manuals"), either electronically, on the Circle K franchise extranet or in hard copy format, which must be available at all times at the Store, and, if in hard copy format, returned by Franchisee to Franchisor upon expiration or termination of this Agreement. To protect the reputation and goodwill of Franchisor, and to maintain uniform operating standards under the Business System, Franchisee will at all times during the Term conduct business at the Store in accordance with the mandatory provisions of the Business Systems Manuals.
- 9.2 Revisions to Business Systems Manuals. The Business Systems Manuals will, at all times during the Term and thereafter, remain solely and exclusively Franchisor's intellectual property owned exclusively by Franchisor. Franchisor reserves the right to revise, combine or eliminate any part of the Business Systems Manuals at any time during the Term and Franchisee agrees to operate the Store in accordance with all such revisions. Franchisee will at all times keep the Business Systems Manuals current and up-to-date, and in the event of any dispute regarding
the Business Systems Manuals, the terms of the master copy of the Business Systems Manuals maintained by Franchisor will be controlling in all respects.
- 9.3 Confidentiality. Franchisee will use all reasonable means to keep all Confidential Information secret and confidential. Franchisee will not copy any Confidential Information, or any portion thereof, except as approved by Franchisor in writing, and will only use Confidential Information as permitted under this Agreement. Franchisee will not, during the Term or thereafter, communicate, divulge or use for the benefit of any other person or entity any Confidential Information, except that Franchisee may divulge Confidential Information to those (and only those) of its employees who must have access to it in order to operate the Store and who have agreed in writing to maintain confidentiality of such information as required hereunder.
- 9.4 Inspection Rights. Franchisor or its designee will have the right at all reasonable times to access the premises of the Franchised Location electronically or in person (without being guilty of trespassing) in order to inspect the premises and observe Franchisee's operations (including any Additional Business operations) to ensure Franchisee's full and faithful compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the mandatory provisions of the Business Systems Manuals and applicable laws, and Franchisee agrees to fully cooperate with any such inspection. Franchisee may be required to bear the costs of such inspections if the inspections are conducted by a thirdparty designee of Franchisor.
Source: Item 9 — FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS (FDD pages 53–55)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Circle K Franchise Disclosure Document, the Business Systems Manuals contain detailed information about a franchisee's obligations. Circle K will provide one copy of these manuals, which include the Store Guides and Operations and Reference Manuals, either electronically, on the Circle K franchise extranet, or in hard copy format. The franchisee must ensure these manuals are always available at the store. If in hard copy, the franchisee must return them to Circle K upon the agreement's expiration or termination.
The FDD emphasizes that franchisees must conduct business at the store according to the mandatory provisions within the Business Systems Manuals to protect Circle K's reputation and maintain uniform operating standards. Circle K retains the right to revise, combine, or eliminate any part of the Business Systems Manuals during the term of the agreement, and the franchisee must operate the store in accordance with these revisions. Franchisees must keep their manuals current and up-to-date, with the master copy maintained by Circle K controlling in case of any disputes.
Furthermore, franchisees must use all reasonable means to keep all information about the Business System confidential. This includes the Business Systems Manuals themselves, along with methods, policies, procedures, programs, standards, trade secrets, data, software, technology, marketing plans, and other materials not in the public domain. Franchisees are also responsible for maintaining records according to the Business Systems Manuals and complying with all laws applicable to the EPOS system or other technology used in the store's operation, including data protection, privacy, security laws, and payment card industry compliance.