What is the dependency between the Development Agreement and the Franchise Agreement for Fat Shack?
Fat_Shack Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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3. DEVELOPMENT OBLIGATIONS
- 3.1. Franchisee will be bound by and strictly follow the schedule for developing the FAT SHACK Restaurants in the Protected Area set forth in the Addendum (the "Development Schedule"). Time is of the essence. By the date set forth under the Development Schedule for each applicable FAT SHACK Restaurant, Franchisee must exercise its development rights by entering into a Franchise Agreement with FSI for that FAT SHACK Restaurant. Further, Franchisee shall itself continuously maintain in operation at least the number of FAT SHACK Restaurants set forth on the Development Schedule.
- 3.2. Franchisee will exercise its right for development of each FAT SHACK Restaurant by giving FSI written notice of its intention to develop such FAT SHACK Restaurant at least 90 days in advance of the deadline set forth in the Development Schedule for executing each Subsequent Franchise Agreement. Subject to FSI's approval, Franchisee must execute the then-current form of Franchise Agreement for the particular FAT SHACK Restaurant and pay the balance of the Initial Franchise Fee, together with all other initial fees and deposits set forth in the applicable Subsequent Franchise Agreement by the deadline set forth in the Development Schedule. FSI will execute a Franchise Agreement with Franchisee only if Franchisee is in compliance with all requirements and obligations of this Development Agreement and all other agreements between the parties, including the individual Franchise Agreements between FSI and Franchisee. Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that FSI will have the right to refuse to offer Franchisee the right to enter into a Subsequent Franchise Agreement if FSI believes, in its discretion, that Franchisee does not have sufficient financial resources or other ability to properly develop and operate the proposed subsequent FAT SHACK Restaurant. The Subsequent
Franchise Agreement for the second and each subsequent FAT SHACK Restaurant will be executed within 10 days after FSI's approval of the particular FAT SHACK Restaurant location. Franchisee's failure to execute any Subsequent Franchise Agreement or its default in any term of any Subsequent Franchise Agreement may, at the option of FSI, be deemed a default under this Development Agreement and shall entitle FSI to terminate this Development Agreement as further provided in Article 4 below.
- 3.3. Franchisee shall not, without the prior written approval of FSI and without signing a Subsequent Franchise Agreement related to the FAT SHACK Restaurant for a particular location, enter into any contract for the purchase or lease of any premises for use as a FAT SHACK Restaurant. FSI will assist Franchisee in the selection and approval of locations for its FAT SHACK Restaurants in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Subsequent Franchise Agreement. Franchisee acknowledges that FSI has no obligation to select or acquire a location on behalf of Franchisee.
- 3.4. Each Subsequent Franchise Agreement to be executed by Franchisee for each FAT SHACK Restaurant to be developed hereunder shall be in the form of Franchise Agreement then generally being offered to franchisees by FSI, which may contain terms subsequently different then the terms of the Initial Franchise Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, FSI agrees that it will not charge an Initial Franchise Fee to Franchisee which is greater than the amounts set forth in Section 2.1. above. Franchisee acknowledges that FSI has the right, however, to charge then current published rates for the required products, royalty percentages, advertising contributions and other fees, products and services offered to Franchisee.
- 3.5.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 53–223)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Fat Shack's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Development Agreement and Franchise Agreement are closely linked. The Development Agreement grants the franchisee the right to develop Fat Shack restaurants within a specific geographic area, but each restaurant must be established and operated under a separate Franchise Agreement.
A key dependency is that the franchisee must adhere to the development schedule outlined in the Development Agreement. To exercise their development rights for each Fat Shack restaurant, the franchisee must enter into a Franchise Agreement with Fat Shack, meeting deadlines specified in the development schedule. Fat Shack will only execute a Franchise Agreement if the franchisee is compliant with all obligations under the Development Agreement and other agreements, including existing individual Franchise Agreements.
Failure to meet the obligations of any Subsequent Franchise Agreement can be considered a default under the Development Agreement, potentially leading to its termination. The Development Agreement also specifies financial obligations, such as the Development Fee ($5,000 for each additional restaurant) and the Initial Franchise Fee ($18,000 for the second and subsequent restaurants), with a portion of the Development Fee being credited towards the Initial Franchise Fee. This structure ensures that Fat Shack maintains control over the pace and quality of development within the protected area, while also providing a framework for the franchisee to expand their operations.