3.Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt

 

Cadence Credit Facility

 

The Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) maintain an amended and restated credit agreement with Cadence Bank (“Cadence”) pursuant to which, Cadence agreed to loan the Company up to $8,000,000, which has a maturity date of April 20, 2028 (as amended to date, the “Cadence Credit Facility”). The Cadence Credit Facility amended and restated the Company’s prior credit facility with Cadence in its entirety. The Cadence Credit Facility accrues commitment fees on the daily unused balance of the facility at a rate of 0.25%. The loans may from time to time consist of a mixture of SOFR Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans with differing interest rates based upon varying additions to the Federal Funds Rate, the Cadence prime rate or Term SOFR. Each of the Subsidiaries are guarantors of the Cadence Credit Facility.

 

Proceeds from the Cadence Credit Facility, if and when drawn, may be used (i) to fund new restaurant development, (ii) to finance the buyout of non-controlling partners in certain restaurants, (iii) to finance the redemption, purchase or other acquisition of equity interests in the Company and (iv) for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The Cadence Credit Facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. The Cadence Credit Facility also requires the Company to maintain various financial condition ratios, including minimum liquidity, an amended maximum leverage ratio and an amended minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition, to the extent the aggregate outstanding balance under the revolver under the Cadence Credit Facility exceeds $4.0 million, the Company is required to meet a new specified leverage ratio, on a pro forma basis, before making further borrowings as well as certain restricted payments, investments and growth capital expenditures. As of the date of filing of this report, the Company was in compliance with each of these covenants under the Cadence Credit Facility.

 

As of September 30, 2025, the interest rate applicable to borrowings under the Cadence Credit Facility was 7.27%.

 

As a result of entering into the Cadence Credit Facility and the various amendments, the Company paid loan origination costs including professional fees of approximately $324,000 and is amortizing these costs over the term of the credit agreement. As of September 30, 2025, the unamortized balance of these fees was $93,000.

 

In connection with the Cadence Credit Facility, the Company and the Subsidiaries entered into an Amended and Restated Security and Pledge Agreement (the “Security Agreement”) with Cadence. Under the Security Agreement, the Cadence Credit Facility is secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

 

As of September 30, 2025, there were $2,000,000 of borrowings against the facility, all of which is due during the fiscal year ending September 2028 and is classified as a long-term liability in the accompanying balance sheet. Availability of the Cadence Credit Facility for borrowings is reduced by the outstanding face value of any letters of credit issued under the facility. As of September 30, 2025, there were approximately $10,000 in outstanding letters of credit issued under the facility, and approximately $5,990,000 of committed funds available.

Parker Promissory Note

 

Good Times Drive Thru, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company is the maker of an unsecured promissory note in connection with the purchase of the previously franchised Good Times Burgers and Frozen Custard restaurant located in the Denver suburb of Parker, Colorado. JGN Management, Inc., the former franchisee, is the holder of the note. The Parker Promissory Note fully amortizes over its original ten-year life maturing on June 1, 2034, carries an interest rate of 5.00% and is, in all respects, subordinate to the Cadence Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2025, the outstanding principal balance on the Parker Promissory Note was $342,000. Annual principal maturities over the next five years are approximately $35,000 each year.

 

Total interest expense on notes payable was $191,000 and $108,000 for fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Dec 29, 2025Showing above
2024Dec 12, 2024
2023Dec 14, 2023
2022Dec 15, 2022
2021Dec 16, 2021
2020Dec 18, 2020
2019Dec 20, 2019
2018Dec 14, 2018
2017Dec 22, 2017
2016Dec 27, 2016
2015Dec 29, 2015

About Debt Disclosures

Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.

Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.