Does receiving the Hardees disclosure document guarantee approval as a franchisee?
Hardees Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Your receipt of this disclosure document does not mean that you will be approved as a franchisee or that you may develop or open a Franchised Restaurant. Before you may develop and open a Franchised Restaurant, HR must approve you as a franchisee (or, if you already are a franchisee, approve you for expansion), HR must accept the location of your proposed Franchised Restaurant, you and those of your employees whom you hire for certain designated positions must attend and successfully complete HR's training programs and HR and you must sign the Franchise Agreement. You should not acquire any interest in a site for a Franchised Restaurant until, at the earliest, you are approved by HR as a franchisee (or, if you already are a franchisee, approved for expansion), and HR accepts the site for your Franchised Restaurant.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 9–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hardees's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, receiving the disclosure document does not guarantee approval as a franchisee. Before a prospective franchisee can develop or open a Hardees restaurant, Hardees must approve them as a franchisee. If the applicant is already a franchisee, Hardees must approve them for expansion. Hardees must also accept the location of the proposed franchised restaurant.
Furthermore, the franchisee and their employees in designated positions must attend and successfully complete Hardees' training programs. Finally, both Hardees and the franchisee must sign the Franchise Agreement. The document emphasizes that prospective franchisees should not acquire any interest in a site for a Hardees restaurant until Hardees approves them as a franchisee (or approves them for expansion if they are an existing franchisee) and accepts the site.
This process is typical in franchising, as franchisors need to ensure that franchisees meet their standards and that the location is suitable for the business. This protects the Hardees brand and ensures consistency across all franchise locations. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these requirements and ensure they meet all criteria before investing in a Hardees franchise.