Are fees paid to Hck Hot Chicken or its affiliates refundable under any circumstances?
Hck_Hot_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Fees. All fees paid to us, or our affiliates, and are not refundable under any circumstances once paid. However, while the fees are normally uniform, sometimes we have reduced the royalty fee in select situations. Fees paid to vendors or other suppliers may be refundable depending on the vendors and suppliers.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 13–19)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hck Hot Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, fees paid to Hck Hot Chicken or its affiliates are generally not refundable under any circumstances once paid. However, fees paid to vendors or other suppliers may be refundable, depending on the vendor's policies.
There is one exception to the non-refundability of fees paid to Hck Hot Chicken. Specifically, the $10,000 transfer fee includes a $1,000 non-refundable deposit that is due at the time of the transfer application submittal. The remaining balance of the transfer fee is due at the time of the approved transfer.
Additionally, if a franchisee fails a food safety audit or other inspection, they will be required to undergo an additional audit or inspection and will pay Hck Hot Chicken directly upon invoicing. This fee is uniformly imposed and is not refundable under any circumstances. Understanding the specific refund policies for various fees is crucial for prospective franchisees to manage their financial expectations and obligations.