Does the Crisp & Green Illinois addendum impose any geographic limits on the franchise?

According to the 2024 Crisp & Green Franchise Disclosure Document, the Illinois addendum itself does not impose explicit geographic limits on the franchise. However, it does specify the conditions under which the addendum is applicable. The addendum applies only if the developer is domiciled in Illinois or if the offer of the franchise is made or accepted in Illinois, and the franchise business is or will be located in Illinois. This suggests that the franchise operations themselves must be situated within Illinois for the addendum to take effect.

This conditionality ensures that Illinois state laws and regulations are appropriately applied to Crisp & Green franchises operating within the state. It also implies that if a developer is not domiciled in Illinois and the franchise business is not located there, the Illinois addendum would not govern the franchise agreement. This is a common practice in franchising, where state-specific addenda are used to address legal requirements that vary from state to state.

Furthermore, the Illinois addendum modifies certain sections of the standard franchise agreement to comply with Illinois law. For example, it stipulates that any provision designating jurisdiction or venue outside of Illinois is void, and Illinois law will govern the agreement. These modifications ensure that Crisp & Green franchisees in Illinois are protected by and subject to Illinois law, regardless of what the standard franchise agreement might otherwise state. Therefore, while the addendum doesn't create geographic limits, it does specify when Illinois law takes precedence, which inherently ties the franchise's legal framework to its location within the state.