Under what circumstances will Fat Shack NOT provide the pre-opening assistance described?

According to Fat Shack's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor will not provide the described pre-opening assistance if a franchisee is exercising successor franchise rights for a Fat Shack restaurant that is already in operation. This means that if an existing Fat Shack franchisee is renewing or transferring their franchise agreement for the same location, the new agreement is considered a successor franchise, and Fat Shack will not provide the standard pre-opening assistance.

This exception is significant for existing franchisees who may assume they will receive the same level of support when renewing or transferring their franchise. However, since the restaurant is already operational, Fat Shack likely assumes that the franchisee already possesses the necessary knowledge and experience to continue operations without additional pre-opening assistance.

It is important for prospective franchisees to understand this distinction, especially if they are considering acquiring an existing Fat Shack location. While acquiring an existing restaurant can offer advantages such as an established customer base and operational history, franchisees should be aware that they will not receive the same pre-opening support as someone opening a new Fat Shack restaurant for the first time.