Is the Circle K transfer fee refundable under any circumstances?

According to Circle K's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the transfer fee is not refundable under any circumstances. To transfer a Circle K franchise, the franchisee must obtain Circle K's consent, and either the franchisee or the proposed transferee must pay a transfer fee before the proposed transferee attends training. As of the date of the disclosure document, the transfer fee is $25,000, but this fee can change. If there is no current franchise disclosure document at the time of the transfer, the transfer fee will be equal to the initial franchise fee of the most recent franchise disclosure document in effect prior to the transfer.

A reduced transfer fee of $3,000 may apply in specific situations. These situations include transfers to a spouse or adult child, transfers to a corporation where the franchisee retains majority ownership, transfers of interest between partners or shareholders where the majority partner remains the same, or when only the franchisee's name changes.

Because the transfer fee is non-refundable, a prospective Circle K franchisee should carefully consider the implications before initiating a transfer. Franchisees should be certain of their plans and the transferee's qualifications before paying the fee, as it will not be returned regardless of whether the transfer is completed.