How long does City Wide have to pay the purchase price for a City Wide business after agreeing to purchase it?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Provision | Section in Franchise Agreement | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| reasonable attorneys' | |||
| fees, incurred by CITY | |||
| WIDE subsequent to termination or expiration in | |||
| connection with obtaining injunctive or other relief | |||
| under the Franchise Agreement; provide all signage | |||
| to CITY WIDE; and take further action as may be | |||
| required by the Operating | |||
| Manual or reasonably | |||
| requested by CITY WIDE; and, if due to your | |||
| default, forfeit any royalty rebate. | |||
| j. | Assignment of contract by | Section 13 | No restriction on CITY WIDE's |
| Franchisor | right to assign. | ||
| k. | "Transfer" by you – definition | Section 13 | Includes transfer of contract or assets or change in ownership. |
| l. | Franchisor's approval of transfer by you | Section 13 | CITY WIDE has the right to approve all transfers, but will not unreasonably withhold approval. |
| m. | Conditions for Franchisor's approval of transfer | Section 13 | You must ask CITYWIDE at least 60 days before to approve a transfer; you must pay a Transfer Fee equal to $25,000 and pay any applicable third-party broker fee; you must be in compliance with the Franchise Agreement and Operating Manual; transferee must meet CITY WIDE's standards, agree to make required upgrades, sign the current form of franchise agreement, and pay all required fees (including Initial Fees). |
| n. | Franchisor's right of first refusal to acquire your business | Section 20 | If you propose to sell the Franchised Business, its assets or part of the ownership of Franchisee, CITY WIDE will have a right of first refusal for 60 days to purchase for the price, terms and conditions offered to you (except CITY WIDE may substitute cash for payment terms). |
| o. | Franchisor's option to purchase your business | Section 20 | When the Agreement terminates or expires, CITY WIDE will have an option, but not an obligation, to purchase from you any assets of the Franchised Business and any materials containing the Marks at the lower of fair market value or your cost; CITY WIDE must notify you within 60 days after the termination or expiration. CITY WIDE shall have up to six months to pay the entirety of the agreed upon purchase price. |
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 44–47)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, City Wide has a specific timeframe for paying the purchase price if it exercises its option to buy back a franchise. If City Wide chooses to purchase the assets of a franchised business upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, they have up to six months to pay the agreed-upon purchase price in full.
This buy-back option is not an obligation but a right City Wide can exercise. The price will be the lower of either the fair market value or the franchisee's original cost for the assets and materials containing City Wide's trademarks. City Wide must notify the franchisee of its intent to purchase within 60 days after the termination or expiration of the franchise agreement.
This clause provides a defined period for City Wide to arrange financing and complete the purchase, which could be beneficial for both parties. The franchisee knows when to expect payment, and City Wide has sufficient time to manage the acquisition. However, franchisees should be aware that the purchase price may be based on depreciated asset values, potentially resulting in a lower payout than anticipated.