What agreement must a Fat Shack franchisee obtain from their landlord to transfer the restaurant's lease?

According to the 2025 Fat Shack Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must obtain permission from their landlord to transfer the restaurant's lease to a proposed transferee. Specifically, the FDD states that the franchisee's landlord must allow the franchisee to transfer the Fat Shack Restaurant's lease to the transferee as a condition for Fat Shack's approval of the transfer.

This requirement ensures that the new franchisee has a secure location to operate the Fat Shack business. Without the landlord's consent, the transfer could be jeopardized, potentially leaving the new franchisee without a location. This condition protects Fat Shack's interests by ensuring the continued operation of the franchise at an approved location.

For a prospective Fat Shack franchisee, this means that securing the landlord's approval is a critical step in the transfer process. It is not enough to simply find a buyer; the franchisee must also ensure that the landlord is willing to accept the new franchisee as the tenant. This may involve negotiations with the landlord and providing them with information about the proposed transferee's financial stability and business experience. This requirement is fairly standard in the franchise industry, as the location is often a key component of the franchise's value and success.