Does Craters & Freighters assist with locating a suitable site for the franchised business?
Craters_Freighters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Before you open your business, we (or our designee) will provide the following assistance and services to you:
- (2) We will use reasonable efforts to assist you with locating a suitable site ("Premises") for your Franchised Business. (See Section 4.1 of the Franchise Agreement).
We do not generally own and lease the premises of any Craters & Freighters Franchised Business to any franchisee.
You must select the area and Premises for your Franchised Business subject to our consent. You must select a suitable site for your Franchised Business within sixty (60) days after you sign the Franchise Agreement. Before leasing the site for your Franchised Business, you must submit to us, in the form we specify, a description of the site and any other information we may require. We will have five (5) business days after receiving this information from you to accept or reject the proposed site. If we do not accept or reject the proposed site within five (5) business days, the site will be deemed rejected. If we do not accept your site, you will need to identify another site and receive our acceptance of the alternate site. If you and we are unable to agree on a suitable site within sixty (60) days after the Franchise Agreement was signed, we will extend the time period for selecting the site, but such extension will not be any later than six (6) months from the date on which the Franchise Agreement was signed. If you and we cannot agree on a suitable site within six (6) months from the date on which the Franchise Agreement was signed, we may terminate the Franchise Agreement and retain all monies received. The factors that we consider in selecting and approving your site include the following: the site must have at least 5,000 square feet of warehouse space, be located in an industrial area, have highway access, and have an overhead door. It is recommended to lease said space with a loading dock, although one is not required as long as you have a dock door that enables you to ship out and to receive large items of freight. If the dock door opens to ground level, you must have a forklift. The physical appearance and location of the Premises of your Franchised Business must meet our standards and specifications.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Craters & Freighters's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Craters & Freighters will use reasonable efforts to assist franchisees in locating a suitable site for their franchised business. However, Craters & Freighters does not typically own or lease the premises to the franchisee. The franchisee is ultimately responsible for securing financing, obtaining permits and licenses, complying with laws and the lease, constructing improvements, decorating the premises, and purchasing/installing fixtures, equipment, and signs.
Craters & Freighters requires franchisees to select an area and premises that meet their approval within 60 days of signing the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees must submit a description of the site for approval, and Craters & Freighters has five business days to either accept or reject the proposed site. Failure to respond within five business days results in the site being deemed rejected. If a suitable site cannot be agreed upon within six months of signing the Franchise Agreement, Craters & Freighters may terminate the agreement and retain all monies received.
The FDD outlines specific criteria that Craters & Freighters considers when approving a site. These include a minimum of 5,000 square feet of warehouse space, location in an industrial area, highway access, and an overhead door. While a loading dock is recommended, it is not required if a dock door enables the shipping and receiving of large freight items. If the dock door opens to ground level, a forklift is necessary. The physical appearance and location of the premises must also meet Craters & Freighters' standards and specifications.