Is Southern Steer's consent to a particular site an endorsement of that site for a Southern Steer Business?

According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Southern Steer's consent to a site does not constitute an endorsement of that site, nor does it guarantee the future success of the Southern Steer Business at that location. While Southern Steer provides site criteria and reviews the site information provided by the franchisee, the responsibility for selecting the location ultimately falls on the franchisee.

Southern Steer provides site criteria that include demographic characteristics, traffic patterns, parking, neighborhood characteristics, competition, proximity to other businesses, foot traffic, daytime business population, size, and appearance. The franchisee is responsible for conducting their own market research and finding a qualified agent to assist in the site selection process. Southern Steer has no obligation, duty, or liability to the franchisee resulting from the site selected by the franchisee or the lease of the location for the Southern Steer Business.

This means that while Southern Steer offers guidance and approval, the franchisee bears the primary risk and responsibility for choosing a viable location. Prospective franchisees should conduct thorough due diligence and not rely solely on Southern Steer's approval as a guarantee of success. This is a common practice in franchising, where franchisees are expected to take the lead in site selection while adhering to the franchisor's guidelines.