When will the Franchisor collect initial fees from a Crave Cookies franchisee in Washington?

According to Crave Cookies' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor will not collect any initial fees from a franchisee in Washington until it has fulfilled its pre-opening obligations as outlined in the Franchise Agreement, and the franchisee has opened for business. This policy is explicitly stated in Item 23, Receipts. This ensures that the franchisee receives the necessary support and resources from Crave Cookies before being required to pay the initial fees.

For franchisees entering into a Multi-Unit Development Agreement (MUDA) with Crave Cookies, the timing of initial fee collection is slightly different. Upon signing the MUDA, the franchisee must pay the total initial franchise fee for the first location. For each additional location listed in the MUDA, a deposit of $5,000 is required to reserve the location, with the remaining balance due at the time of lease signing. However, the franchise fee will be released proportionally with respect to each franchise outlet opened and until Crave Cookies has met all its pre-opening obligations under the Agreement and the franchisee is open for business with respect to each such location.

It is important to note that Washington state law provides certain protections to franchisees. Specifically, no statement, questionnaire, or acknowledgment signed by a franchisee can waive claims under Washington franchise law, including claims of fraud in the inducement, or disclaim reliance on statements made by Crave Cookies. This provision supersedes any other conflicting terms in any document executed in connection with the franchise, ensuring that franchisees in Washington retain their legal rights and protections.