Are Aerus franchisees required to ensure their managers maintain an ownership interest in the franchise?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
At our request, you must require your manager and any personnel having access to any of our Confidential Information to sign agreements that will require them to maintain the confidentiality of information they receive in connection with their employment by you at your Franchised Business. The agreements must be in a form satisfactory to us, including specific identification of us as a third-party beneficiary of the covenants with the independent right to enforce them and that they prohibit any direct or indirect ownership in a competing business.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 53–54)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not required to ensure their managers maintain an ownership interest in the franchise. However, Aerus does require that managers and any personnel with access to Aerus's confidential information sign agreements. These agreements must ensure the confidentiality of the information they receive through their employment.
These agreements must be satisfactory to Aerus and specifically identify Aerus as a third-party beneficiary with the independent right to enforce the covenants. Furthermore, the agreements must prohibit any direct or indirect ownership in a competing business.
This requirement ensures that confidential information remains protected and that managers do not have conflicting interests through ownership in competing businesses. While not mandating ownership in the Aerus franchise itself, Aerus focuses on preventing involvement in rival companies.