Are the fees paid to Fat Shack refundable?

According to Fat Shack's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, most fees paid to Fat Shack or its affiliates are not refundable. Item 6 explicitly states that, unless otherwise noted, all fees are uniformly imposed and collected by and payable to Fat Shack or its affiliates, and that no fees are refundable.

However, the FDD also notes an exception regarding fees not paid directly to Fat Shack. Specifically, the document states "Fees that are not paid to us but may not be refundable." This implies that while fees paid directly to Fat Shack are generally non-refundable, there may be instances where fees paid to third parties, such as for initial training program expenses, could potentially be refundable depending on the policies of those third parties.

Prospective Fat Shack franchisees should carefully review the terms and conditions associated with each fee, particularly those paid to third-party suppliers, to understand the specific refund policies that may apply. It is important to clarify with Fat Shack and any third-party vendors under what circumstances, if any, a refund may be possible.