What is the Crave franchisee's responsibility regarding the location of a site that satisfies Crave's site selection guidelines?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Site Selection: You must assume all costs, liabilities, expenses, and responsibility for locating, obtaining, and developing a site for the Restaurant and for constructing and equipping the Restaurant at the approved site. You will select the site for the Restaurant subject to our approval and using our site selection criteria. Before you lease or purchase the site for the Restaurant, you must locate a site that satisfies our site selection guidelines. If we deem it necessary, we will conduct one on-site evaluation, but before we conduct the evaluation you must submit to us in the form we specify a description of the site, including evidence that the site satisfies our site selection guidelines, together with other information and materials that we may reasonably require, including a letter of intent or other evidence that confirms your favorable prospects for obtaining the site. We have the right to approve deviations from our site selection standards based on the individual factors and components of a particular site.
You must have located and submitted to us, for our review, all information we require regarding the site you propose for your Restaurant no later than 90 days after you have signed the Franchise Agreement. We will have 30 days after we receive all the required information and materials from you to approve or decline the proposed site as the location for your Crave Restaurant. If we do not provide our specific approval of a proposed site, the site is deemed not approved.
We will provide you with our current written site selection guidelines and any other site selection counseling and assistance we think is advisable. Our criteria for site selection include: location of the site and its setting (free-standing building, shopping center, shopping mall, downtown location, etc.); availability of parking; visibility from main roads; availability, size and placement of signage; co-tenants in the shopping center or immediate area; other businesses in the immediate area; accessibility to the site; condition of the premises and how much build-out or construction it will need; proximity to competitive businesses; availability of utilities; and base population and median income in the immediate area. We will use these and other factors in determining the suitability of your proposed site for a Crave Restaurant.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 32–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee bears the primary responsibility for site selection. Specifically, the franchisee must locate, obtain, and develop a site for the restaurant that aligns with Crave's site selection criteria. This includes covering all associated costs, liabilities, and expenses. Before leasing or purchasing a site, the franchisee must ensure it meets Crave's guidelines.
As part of the site selection process, the franchisee must submit a detailed description of the site to Crave, including evidence that it satisfies Crave's site selection guidelines. This submission should also include any other information or materials reasonably required by Crave, such as a letter of intent that confirms favorable prospects for obtaining the site. Crave may conduct an on-site evaluation if deemed necessary.
The franchisee has 90 days from signing the Franchise Agreement to locate a site and submit all required information to Crave for review. Crave then has 30 days to approve or decline the proposed site. Failure to obtain specific approval from Crave results in the site being deemed not approved. Crave provides written site selection guidelines and other advisory assistance, with criteria including location type, parking availability, visibility, signage, co-tenants, nearby businesses, accessibility, condition of the premises, proximity to competitors, availability of utilities, and local demographics.