Are franchisees in California subject to the acknowledgements in clauses (c), (d), and (e) of the Noodles & Company franchise agreement?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The acknowledgments in clauses (c), (d), and (e) below apply to all franchisees and franchises except not to any franchisees and franchises that are subject to the state franchise registration/disclosure laws in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 99–350)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees in California are NOT subject to acknowledgements in clauses (c), (d), and (e) of section 1.02 of the franchise agreement.
The FDD states that these specific acknowledgements do not apply to franchisees in states with franchise registration/disclosure laws. California is explicitly listed among these states, along with Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
This means that while all Noodles & Company franchisees acknowledge certain general terms and conditions, those in the listed states are exempt from acknowledging clauses (c), (d), and (e). These clauses typically involve acknowledging the independent investigation of the business venture, understanding the risks of the restaurant industry, and acknowledging advice to have the agreement reviewed by an attorney.