factual

After the expiration or termination of the Development Agreement, can you or your Owners operate a Competitive Business within 15 miles of your Noodles & Company Restaurant?

Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

[Item 23: RECEIPT]

For a continuous uninterrupted period commencing upon the expiration or termination of the Development Agreement and for two years thereafter, you and your Owners, shall not, without Noodles & Company's prior written consent, either directory or indirectly, for yourself or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any person, persons, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation:

  • (a) Divert or attempt to divert any business or customer of any Noodles & Company Restaurant to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, or

do or perform, directly or indirectly, any other act injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with Noodles & Company's Marks or the System.

  • (b) [Intentionally omitted]

  • (c) Own, maintain, advise, be employed by, consult for, make loans to, operate, engage in or have an ownership interest (including any right to share in revenues or profits) in any Competitive Business which is, or is intended to be located within:

  • (1) the Protected Area;

  • (2) a radius of 15 miles from your Noodles & Company Restaurant;

  • (3) a radius of 15 miles of any Noodles & Company Restaurant; or

  • (4) any Designated Market Area (as defined by Nielsen Media Research) where any Noodles & Company Restaurant is located.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will have no obligation under Section 5 or Section 6 after the second anniversary of the later of (a) the date you cease to have an ownership interest in Franchisee or (b) the date you cease to render services to Franchisee.

You and each of your Owners expressly acknowledge the possession of skills and abilities of a general nature and the opportunity to exploit such skills in other ways, so that enforcement of the covenants contained in Sections 5 and 6 will not deprive any of you of your personal goodwill or ability to earn a living.

If any covenant herein, which

restricts competitive activity, is deemed unenforceable by virtue of its scope or in terms of geographical area, type of business activity prohibited, and/or length of time, but could be rendered enforceable by reducing any part or all of it, you and we agree that it will be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law and public policy. Noodles & Company may obtain in any court of competent jurisdiction any injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, against conduct or threatened conduct for which no adequate remedy at law may be available or which may cause it irreparable harm. You, and each of your Owners, acknowledge that any violation of Sections 4, 5, or 6 hereof would result in irreparable injury for which no adequate remedy at law may be available. If Noodles & Company files a claim to enforce this Agreement and prevails in such proceeding, you agree to reimburse Noodles & Company for all its costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to the 2025 Noodles & Company FDD, for a period of two years after the expiration or termination of the Development Agreement, you and your owners are restricted from engaging in any Competitive Business within a 15-mile radius of a Noodles & Company Restaurant. This restriction applies unless Noodles & Company provides prior written consent. This includes owning, maintaining, advising, being employed by, consulting for, making loans to, operating, engaging in, or having an ownership interest in any Competitive Business.

This non-compete clause also extends to the Protected Area and any Designated Market Area (as defined by Nielsen Media Research) where a Noodles & Company Restaurant is located. The FDD specifies that this restriction is in place to protect the goodwill associated with Noodles & Company's Marks and the System. However, after two years from the date you cease to have an ownership interest or stop providing services to the franchisee, these obligations no longer apply.

The FDD also states that you and your owners acknowledge having general skills and the opportunity to use them in other ways, ensuring that enforcing these non-compete agreements will not deprive you of your personal goodwill or ability to earn a living. If any part of the non-compete agreement is deemed unenforceable, it will be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. Noodles & Company retains the right to seek injunctive relief against any conduct that violates these terms, and you may be responsible for reimbursing Noodles & Company's legal costs if they win a claim to enforce the agreement.

In practical terms, this means that if you decide to leave the Noodles & Company franchise system, you and your owners will need to avoid any direct or indirect involvement with competing businesses within the specified areas for two years. This could limit your immediate career options and require careful consideration of future business ventures. It is important to fully understand the scope and implications of these restrictions before entering into a Development Agreement with Noodles & Company.

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.