How long after signing the Franchise Agreement does a Marble Slab Creamery franchisee have to open for business?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
r Restaurant. (Management Agreement, Section 1.1 and Exhibit J)
We estimate that the typical length of time between signing a Franchise Agreement and opening your Restaurant is about 6 to 9 months. Factors affecting this length of time include, among others: ability to select a site and negotiate a satisfactory lease; hiring of the requisite employees; successful completion of initial training; local ordinances or community requirements; delivery of fixtures, equipment, and signs; the availability of inventory; issuance of all necessary licenses, permits and approvals; and procuring required insurance. You must open the Restaurant before the earlier to occur of: (i) 12 months after we sign the Franchise Agreement, or (ii) 120 days after your landlord delivers possession of the site to you (the "Opening Deadline"). If you operate a Satellite, we must approve in writing your facility before you open your Satellite.
If (i) you have entered into a purchase agreement or Site Lease as required under the Franchise Agreement on or before the Site Securitization Deadline, (ii) you have submitted all construction permits for the build-out of your Restaurant to all applicable governing authorities for approval on or before the Opening Deadline, and (iii) you are otherwise in compliance with your obligations under the Franchise Agreement, the Opening Deadline shall be extended for a period of two months. Additionally, if we grant you the Site Securitization Extension, you have paid the 60-Day Extension Fee, and you have entered into a purchase agreement or Site Lease for an accepted Site in accordance with the terms of this Agreement before the expiration of the Site Securitization Extension, the Opening Deadline shall be extended to the date that is 120 days following the earlier to occur of (a) the date on which you enter into the a purchase agreement or Site Lease, or (b) the expiration of the Site Securitization Extension.
Advertising Programs
We will conduct promotional/advertising activities, developed by us, an advertising agency and/or a public relations firm, to enhance our corporate name and image through a national advertising fund (the "Fund"). You must make a weekly contribution to the Fund in an amount equal to 2% of total net sales.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 53–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Marble Slab Creamery's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must open their restaurant within a specific timeframe after signing the Franchise Agreement. Generally, Marble Slab Creamery estimates the time between signing the agreement and opening the restaurant to be about 6 to 9 months. However, the franchisee must open their Marble Slab Creamery location within 12 months of signing the Franchise Agreement or 120 days after the landlord delivers possession of the site, whichever comes first. This is referred to as the "Opening Deadline."
There are circumstances under which Marble Slab Creamery may extend the opening deadline. If the franchisee has entered into a purchase agreement or Site Lease by the Site Securitization Deadline, has submitted all construction permits to governing authorities by the Opening Deadline, and is otherwise compliant with the Franchise Agreement, the Opening Deadline will be extended by two months.
Additionally, if Marble Slab Creamery grants a Site Securitization Extension, the franchisee pays a 60-Day Extension Fee, and enters into a purchase agreement or Site Lease for an accepted site before the Site Securitization Extension expires, the Opening Deadline will be extended to 120 days following the earlier of the date the purchase agreement or Site Lease is entered into, or the expiration of the Site Securitization Extension. Failure to meet the opening deadline, without an agreed-upon extension from Marble Slab Creamery, can result in the termination of the Franchise Agreement.