What liability do owners and controllers of an entity that comprises the Learningrx franchisee have under the agreement?
Learningrx Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In consideration of, and as inducement to, the execution of that certain Franchise Agreement of even date herewith (the "Agreement") by LearningRx Franchise Corporation (the "Franchisor") and the party or parties identified on the Agreement (the "Franchisee"), and acknowledging that Franchisor would not be willing to enter into the Agreement without the commitment of each spouse or domestic partner of Franchisee's owner to guarantee the performance of the Franchisee, each of the undersigned hereby personally and unconditionally (a) guarantees to Franchisor, and its successors and assigns, for the term of the Agreement and thereafter as provided in the Agreement, that the Franchisee shall punctually pay and perform each and every undertaking, agreement and covenant set forth in the Agreement; and (b) agrees to be personally bound by, and personally liable for the breach of, each and every provision in the Agreement, both monetary obligations and obligations to take or refrain from taking specific actions or to engage or refrain from engaging in specific activities. Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, a spouse or domestic partner who is also a guarantor hereunder and who becomes widowed and who does not have (and will not obtain) an ownership interest in the Franchisee, the Agreement, or any Franchise Agreement granted thereunder as an owner, co-owner, investor, member, partner, shareholder or like capacity shall not thereafter be held responsible for any monetary obligations thereafter arising out of the terms and conditions of this Guaranty and Assumption of Obligations unless any such ownership interest is acquired in any manner by the widowed spouse or domestic partner, or the widowed spouse's children, deceased spouse's children, or domestic partner's children. Notwithstanding any change in ownership resulting from the death of a spouse or domestic partner, all monetary obligations and liabilities existing at the time of death shall continue to be an obligation of the surviving spouse or domestic partner until such obligations or liabilities shall be paid in full by the estate or by the guarantor spouse or domestic partner. Notwithstanding the limitations set forth above, any and all other non-monetary obligations of the Agreement shall remain an obligation of the surviving spouse.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Learningrx Franchise Disclosure Document, owners and controllers of a Learningrx franchise can have significant personal liability. Specifically, the spouse or domestic partner of the franchisee's owner must guarantee the franchisee's performance under the Franchise Agreement. This guarantee means they are personally and unconditionally guaranteeing that the franchisee will fulfill all obligations, agreements, and covenants outlined in the agreement. This includes both monetary obligations and the requirement to take or refrain from specific actions.
This obligation extends for the entire term of the agreement and even after its termination, as specified in the agreement. The spouse or domestic partner is agreeing to be personally bound by and personally liable for any breaches of the agreement. However, there is a provision that if a spouse or domestic partner becomes widowed and does not have (and will not obtain) an ownership interest in the Learningrx franchise, they will not be held responsible for any monetary obligations arising after they became widowed, unless they or their children acquire an ownership interest.
Even with the death of a spouse or domestic partner, any monetary obligations and liabilities existing at the time of death remain the responsibility of the surviving spouse or domestic partner until they are fully paid by the estate or by the guarantor spouse or domestic partner. Furthermore, non-monetary obligations under the agreement remain an obligation of the surviving spouse. This clause ensures that Learningrx has recourse to the personal assets of the franchisee's owners and controllers to ensure compliance with the Franchise Agreement, which is a common practice in franchising to protect the franchisor's interests.
Prospective Learningrx franchisees should carefully consider the implications of this personal guarantee, especially concerning their personal assets and the potential liabilities that could arise from operating a Learningrx franchise. It is advisable to seek legal counsel to fully understand the scope of this guarantee and its potential impact on their personal financial situation.