What must a Noodles & Company franchisee submit before acquiring a site for a restaurant?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Before you acquire, by lease or purchase, any site for a Noodles & Company restaurant, you must submit a complete Site Package to us. We will provide training to you to assist you in completing a typical Site Package for your first restaurant. We will review each Site Package and determine whether to approve the site after considering factors we deem appropriate, including the general location and neighborhood, demographic information, site economics, traffic patterns, access, visibility, location of other restaurants and food establishments, size, configuration, signage and trade dress that is available, appearance and other physical and non-physical characteristics of the site. If we approve the site, we will deliver to you a signed Site Approval Form. We will use reasonable efforts to make a site approval decision within 45 days after we acknowledge receipt of a complete Site Package and any other materials we have requested. However, this timeframe is an estimate and may be subject to delays depending on market conditions or additional due diligence requirements. (Area Development Agreement, Section 3.02; Franchise Agreement, Section 3.01).
Neither our approval of the premises nor any information communicated to you regarding our standard site selection criteria for Noodles & Company restaurants will constitute a warranty or representation of any kind, express or implied, as to the suitability of the site for a Noodles & Company restaurant. Our approval of the proposed site merely signifies that we are willing to grant a franchise for a Noodles & Company restaurant at the site. The decision to enter into a lease or purchase agreement for a site is solely the responsibility of the franchisee. Noodles & Company is not responsible for financial outcomes associated with site selection. Your Noodles & Company restaurant may not be closed or relocated without first obtaining our written consent. (Franchise Agreement, Section 2.01; Area Development Agreement, Section 3.02).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 36–48)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Noodles & Company Franchise Disclosure Document, before a franchisee can acquire a site for a Noodles & Company restaurant, whether by lease or purchase, they must submit a complete Site Package to the franchisor. Noodles & Company will provide training to assist franchisees in preparing this Site Package, particularly for their first restaurant location.
The Site Package is reviewed by Noodles & Company, who will then decide whether to approve the site. Their decision is based on factors they consider appropriate, such as the location and neighborhood, demographic information, site economics, traffic patterns, access, visibility, the location of other food establishments, the site's size and configuration, available signage and trade dress, and other physical and non-physical characteristics. Noodles & Company aims to make a decision within 45 days of receiving the complete Site Package and any additional requested materials, but this timeframe is an estimate and may be subject to delays.
It is important to note that Noodles & Company's approval of a site does not constitute a warranty or representation of its suitability or potential financial outcomes. The franchisee is solely responsible for the decision to enter into a lease or purchase agreement. Furthermore, a Noodles & Company restaurant cannot be closed or relocated without the franchisor's prior written consent. The executed Site Approval Form is the exclusive means by which Noodles & Company approves a proposed site.