Where must arbitration be held for a Mr. Sandless franchise dispute in North Dakota?

According to Mr. Sandless's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 17(u) and Article 24 of the Franchise Agreement are amended for North Dakota franchisees. These sections now state that the arbitration site must be agreeable to all parties involved in the dispute.

This amendment supersedes any standard clauses in the Mr. Sandless franchise agreement that might specify a particular location for arbitration, such as the default location of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The practical effect is that a Mr. Sandless franchisee in North Dakota has the right to negotiate the location of arbitration, rather than being forced to travel to a location chosen by Mr. Sandless.

For a prospective Mr. Sandless franchisee in North Dakota, this is a beneficial change. It provides an opportunity to keep arbitration local, potentially reducing travel costs and making the process more convenient. However, it's important to note that reaching an agreement on the arbitration site requires cooperation from both the franchisee and Mr. Sandless. If an agreement cannot be reached, it is unclear from the FDD what the default arbitration location or procedure would be.