Taste Buds Kitchen

The franchise agreement lists 24 termination causes, which exceeds the typical range for this category. Can you provide a breakdown of these 24 causes and clarify which ones are most commonly cited in practice?

Cure periods for termination violations range from 10 days for failure to retain a qualified General Manager to 30 days for other breaches. How strictly are these cure periods enforced, and what percentage of franchisees successfully cure violations?

Your non-compete clause restricts franchisees for 2 years within 20 miles of their former territory or any other Taste Buds Kitchen location. Given the current 12-unit system size, how many franchisees would be affected by the 20-mile radius, and are there geographic exceptions?

The Personal Guarantee requirement extends to all shareholders, partners, and their spouses. Can you explain the circumstances under which you have enforced personal guarantees against individual guarantors?

Your exclusive purchasing policy requires all food, beverage, furniture, fixtures, and merchandise to be sourced from the franchisor or approved vendors. What percentage of a typical franchisee's cost of goods sold goes to franchisor-controlled suppliers?

The Support & Training score is 99, significantly above the typical range of 78.3-97.8. Can you detail the specific training programs, ongoing support, and materials included in this score?

Why does the Investment score of 42 fall significantly below the typical range of 75.0? What are the total startup costs beyond the $49,500 franchise fee?

The Financial Performance score of 65 exceeds the typical range of 54.0-60.0. Are the reported gross sales figures of $641,304 (median) and $724,442 (average) after franchisor fees, cost of goods, or are they gross revenue?

How many franchisees are represented in the Item 19 financial performance data, and what percentage of the system do they represent?

You report zero litigation cases over 3 years. Is this truly the case, or are you excluding settled disputes, arbitration cases, or claims that did not proceed to formal litigation?

With zero terminations and zero non-renewals in your 3-year history, what is the typical franchisee profile that succeeds in this system, and are there any franchisees who have expressed concerns or requested early termination?

The renewal fee is $10,000. What are the conditions for renewal, and can you provide examples of franchisees who were denied renewal?

Territory is marked as protected but not exclusive. Can you clarify what protection is offered, and under what circumstances you might add a second Taste Buds Kitchen location near an existing franchisee?

Can you provide the average unit volume (AUV) and return on investment (ROI) for franchisees by year of operation to assess long-term profitability?

The system has grown by only 1 unit over 3 years (from 11 to 12). What is your growth strategy for the next 3-5 years, and what support will franchisees receive during expansion phases?

Are there any pending disputes, complaints filed with state regulators, or investigation by franchise regulators that are not reflected in the formal litigation data?

The franchise agreement requires completion of specified conditions for renewal. Can you provide the complete list of these 9 conditions and explain how often franchisees fail to meet them?

What happens if a franchisee wants to exit the system before the end of their 10-year initial term? Are there buy-back options, or are they required to find a buyer approved by the franchisor?

How is the $425 monthly technology fee calculated, and what specific technology services and systems does it cover?