Can a City Wide franchisee change the location of their office without approval?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must establish your office for the Franchised Business ("Office") at a location ("Location") within your Designated Territory prior to the commencement of any business or promotional activities. You may not change the Location without CITY WIDE's approval. You must give CITY WIDE at least 30 days' prior written notice of any such change and CITY WIDE shall have 30 days within which to approve such Location and the proposed decor and signage. If CITY WIDE does not approve of such Location, decor or signage within such 30-day period, your request shall be deemed disapproved.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 36–39)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee cannot change the location of their office without prior approval from City Wide. The franchisee must provide City Wide with at least 30 days' written notice before any proposed change in location. City Wide then has 30 days to evaluate and approve the new location, decor, and signage.
If City Wide does not explicitly approve the proposed location, decor, or signage within that 30-day period, the request is considered disapproved. This requirement ensures that all City Wide franchise locations meet the brand's standards and are suitable for business operations.
This approval process gives City Wide control over the franchisee's business location, which is a fairly standard practice in franchising. It allows City Wide to maintain brand consistency and ensure that each location is set up for success. Franchisees should factor this requirement into their business planning, as any relocation would need to align with City Wide's approval process.