How to Start a MOOYAH Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

MOOYAH's official investment page lists $250,000 in liquidity and $1 million in net worth. Its franchise FAQ says candidates should have relevant ownership and operations experience, financial capacity, and personnel infrastructure; prior business, franchise, or restaurant operations experience is part of the candidate profile. The public pages do not state whether the financial figures apply per person, ownership group, entity, unit, or development commitment, and meeting them does not guarantee approval.

Separate from candidate screening, the 2026 FDD imposes a hard training qualification: each person required to complete initial training must have at least three years of restaurant management experience and have completed ServSafe Manager certification. The Restaurant also must remain under the direct, on-site supervision of a full-time General Manager approved by MOOYAH and trained to its satisfaction.

A prospect normally begins through MOOYAH's franchise inquiry process and proceeds through the franchisor's qualification and approval review. Once MOOYAH is considering the application, the federal Franchise Rule requires delivery of the FDD at least 14 calendar days before the prospect signs a binding agreement with, or pays money to, the franchisor or an affiliate. The FTC Franchise Rule and the FTC Consumer's Guide to Buying a Franchise explain this federal review period.

For one Restaurant, the governing contract is the Franchise Agreement. For a multi-unit path, MOOYAH may also use an Area Development Agreement—called the Multi-Unit Operator Agreement in its system—typically covering three Restaurants under a Protected Area and Minimum Performance Schedule. The first Franchise Agreement is signed with it; later Restaurants require their own then-current Franchise Agreements after site acceptance. Item 15 also makes the Franchise Agreement personal to the signer and permits MOOYAH to require owner or spouse guaranties, so entity formation does not automatically remove personal liability.

A single-unit Franchise Agreement does not grant an exclusive territory. Subject to compliance and reserved rights, it generally creates a Protected Territory around the accepted Restaurant location; the 2026 FDD says this is generally a three-mile radius but can be smaller in dense urban areas. MOOYAH's official territories page is useful for discussing markets, but an available market is not the same as a contractual Protected Territory or an accepted Premises.

The Opening Deadline is the earlier of: (1) 120 days following possession, or the Possession Deadline, whichever is earlier; and (2) 12 months after the Franchise Agreement Effective Date. It is an outside contractual limit, not a typical opening estimate, and written MOOYAH authorization is still required.

The Possession Deadline is separate: when the franchisee lacks possession at signing, it must obtain MOOYAH site acceptance and lawful possession within 180 days. Franchise Agreement §2.2.1 permits only a discretionary one-time 180-day extension requested and granted before the deadline, with a non-refundable $1,000 fee. Item 11 also describes a general release and then-current Franchise Agreement in the extension package; verify the exact documents before relying on an extension.

An Opening Deadline extension is different. Franchise Agreement §2.6 allows one requested 180-day extension only when the intended building was not built when the Franchise Agreement was executed. Missing the Opening Deadline can permit termination and $150-per-day liquidated damages until opening.

The initial training table lists 26 classroom hours and 175 on-the-job hours, with some subjects potentially simultaneous. Training may occur at MOOYAH headquarters in Plano, Texas, at a designated Restaurant, and in part virtually. Classes are scheduled around availability and the projected Opening Date rather than on a fixed calendar.

At least two trainees—and, in MOOYAH's discretion, up to three—must complete training to its satisfaction no later than 30 days before the Opening Date. The franchisee, or at least one owner of a legal-entity franchisee, participates in the required structure; travel, lodging, meals and wages are the franchisee's responsibility. Failure can block opening and may support termination, so Item 5 and Franchise Agreement §5.4 should be read together before assuming any fee refund.

Readiness also requires the approved technology, POS and supplier network. Item 8 currently designates vendors for categories including food and supplies, certain equipment, site selection, computer systems, and design/buildout. Item 11 does not obligate MOOYAH to hire the franchisee's employees, so staffing remains a franchisee workstream.

The Area Development Agreement creates development rights and obligations; it does not itself authorize operation of any Restaurant. The standard form typically requires three Restaurants, but the Protected Area, number of Restaurants, and Minimum Performance Schedule are agreed before signing. Every Restaurant still needs an individual Franchise Agreement and an accepted Premises.

The development agreement also distinguishes traditional development rights from Non-Traditional Sites such as airports, hospitals, schools, stadiums, and similar venues. The current Multi-Unit Operator Agreement says those sites are not included unless MOOYAH gives specific written approval. Buyers considering a nontraditional location should therefore verify the site right and the applicable Restaurant-level Franchise Agreement rather than assuming the Protected Area covers it.