If a Kitchen Solvers franchisee in California executes the Franchisee Acknowledgment/Compliance Questionnaire, what action will the franchisor take?

According to Kitchen Solvers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee in California executes the Franchisee Acknowledgment/Compliance Questionnaire, Kitchen Solvers will disregard it and not rely on it. This means that even if a franchisee completes and submits the questionnaire, Kitchen Solvers will not use the document for any purpose. This is because certain provisions within the standard franchise agreement, particularly those requiring a waiver of exemplary and punitive damages, are not enforceable under California law.

This policy protects the franchisee by ensuring that they are not bound by clauses that conflict with California Corporations Code sections 31201 and 31521. These sections relate to liability and waivers, and the addendum clarifies that no representations requiring a franchisee to waive liability will act as such a waiver under these specific California statutes. This ensures that franchisees retain their rights to bring lawsuits in California for claims arising under these sections of the Corporations Code.

The addendum explicitly states that it supersedes conflicting terms in the standard franchise agreement. This means that the provisions in the addendum take precedence, providing additional protection to franchisees operating in California. This modification ensures compliance with California law and protects the franchisee's rights under those laws, regardless of what the standard franchise agreement might state.