factual

How is the 'Designated Territory' determined for a Mrcool franchise, and where is it described?

Mrcool Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

Center from a fixed Center Location located within a specified territory. Relying on the representations made by Franchisee and/or Franchisee's Owners in any submitted application and during the application process and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Franchisee's request has been approved by Franchisor, subject to the following terms and conditions:

  • (1) During the Term of this Agreement and subject to the rights of Franchisor including, but not limited to, the Reserved Rights, Franchisor grants to Franchisee and Franchisee accepts, the nonexclusive license, right and obligation to develop and operate, one MRCOOL Center in conformity with the System and this Agreement from a single fixed Center location, selected by Franchisee but requiring the approval of Franchisor ("Franchisee's Center Location") and, as designated by Franchisor in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, within a Designated Territory;
  • (2) If, as of the Effective Date, Franchisee has selected a proposed Center Location that Franchisor approves as Franchisee's Center Location, then Franchisee's Center Location and Designated Territory, if any, shall be identified in Schedule 1 of this Agreement. To be effective, Schedule 1 must be completed and signed by Franchisor. Franchisee's execution of Schedule 1 with a specific location for Franchisee's Center Location shall constitute Franchisee's obligation to develop and operate the Franchised Business at the designated Franchisee Center Location;
  • (3) If, as of the Effective Date, Franchisee has not selected a proposed Center Location, and/or has not obtained Franchisor's approval of the proposed Center Location, and/or Schedule 1 to this Agreement is left incomplete or is not signed by Franchisor, Franchisee must locate, identify and secure a Center Location for the Franchised Business in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the requirement that Franchisee must obtain Franchisor's approval of

Franchisee's Center Location. If, after the Effective Date, Franchisee proposes and Franchisor approves of Franchisee's proposed Center Location, such approval must be in writing and must be evidenced by Franchisor's execution of Schedule 1 with a specific Center Location designated and identified in Schedule 1. At the time of executing a completed Schedule 1 and, thereby, approving Franchisee's proposed Center Location, Franchisor, in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, shall designate and determine Franchisee's Designated Territory;

  • (4) If, as of the Effective Date or other appropriate periods after the Effective Date, Franchisee has not selected a proposed Center Location that is approved by Franchisor but, Franchisee has identified an area in which Franchisee may look to secure a Center location for the Franchised Business, Franchisor, in Franchisor's discretion and Reasonable Business Judgment, may enter into the Site Selection Acknowledgment attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 3. If executed by Franchisor, within the Exhibit 3 Site Selection Acknowledgment, Franchisor shall designate a geographic area (the "Site Selection Area") within which Franchisor, during the Site Selection Period, shall not, on behalf of any third party, approve any new Center Location. Franchisee agrees that the Site Selection Acknowledgment does not constitute Franchisor's approval of a proposed Center Location, does not constitute Franchisor's designation of Franchisee's Designated Territory, does not afford Franchisee any territorial rights in or to the Site Selection Area, and does not extend and/or modify any obligation on the part of Franchisee to timely secure an approved Center Location in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
  • (5) At all times, Franchisee's rights in and to the real property and the business premises of Franchisee's Center Location shall be subordinate and subject to Franchisee's and Franchisee's landlord's agreement to and execution of the Center Location Lease Agreement Rider attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 4 and, Franchisee's agreement and execution of the Collateral Assignment of Lease attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 5;
  • (6) Franchisee may only offer and sell the Approved Services and Products from Franchisee's Center Location in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Operations Manual;

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 55–263)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Mrcool's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'Designated Territory' for a franchisee is determined by Mrcool in its "Reasonable Business Judgment and discretion." This means Mrcool has the authority to define the geographic area in which a franchisee will operate. The Franchise Agreement further clarifies that if Schedule 1 of the agreement, which should identify the Designated Territory, is not completed and signed by Mrcool, then no Designated Territory is granted to the franchisee.

Schedule 1 of the Franchise Agreement plays a crucial role in defining the franchisee's Center Location and Designated Territory. If a franchisee has already selected a location that Mrcool approves by the Effective Date, this location and the Designated Territory, if any, will be specified in Schedule 1. The franchisee's execution of Schedule 1 obligates them to operate the Franchised Business at the designated Franchisee Center Location. However, if a location hasn't been selected or approved by the Effective Date, the franchisee must secure a location that Mrcool approves. Mrcool's approval must be in writing and evidenced by their execution of Schedule 1, which also designates the Franchisee's Designated Territory at that time.

It's important to note that Mrcool retains significant rights, including the right to prohibit a franchisee from soliciting customers outside their Designated Territory. However, franchisees may still face competition from other Mrcool Centers and System franchisees, even those located in close proximity or marketing through channels that reach into the franchisee's Designated Territory. The rights granted to the franchisee regarding their Designated Territory are subject to all terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement and are non-exclusive and subordinate to Mrcool's Reserved Rights. This includes Mrcool's right to operate or franchise others outside the franchisee's Designated Territory and to utilize alternative channels of distribution.

For a prospective Mrcool franchisee, understanding the terms related to the Designated Territory is crucial. The franchisee should confirm that Schedule 1 is completed and signed by Mrcool to ensure a Designated Territory is granted. The franchisee should also be aware of the potential for competition from other Mrcool centers and the Reserved Rights that Mrcool retains, which could impact the franchisee's business within their Designated Territory.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.