What happens if an Aerus franchisee ceases to do business?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
m Sales Requirement set forth in Schedule 4 attached hereto. The existence, substance and process of any such system would be the sole and exclusive discretion of Company and may be implemented, revoked or modified (upon reasonable notice to Franchisee) at any time and from time to time.
E. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, Franchisee and Franchisee's principals shall:
(1) Immediately cease operation of the Franchised Business and any use of the Marks, Software and Administration Systems or the Customer Data for any reason or purpose; promptly remove all signs, markings, or other writings and, immediately discontinue all advertising or publicity, that tend to indicate that Franchisee is a franchisee of Company or seller of Products; and immediately discontinue all advertising or publicity and take all actions necessary to comply with the foregoing, including instructing all publishers of any telephone directory or listing not to renew, repeat or insert any listing or advertisement using the word "Aerus", "Lux" or "Electrolux" or any other term or identifier associating Franchisee with Company.
(2) Send written notice to all Outlet Licensees and Sales Representatives with whom Franchisee has been dealing that any license granted to or agreement made with such is terminated, and that such Outlet Licensees and Sales Representatives must also take all other steps herein required of Franchisee under this Section.
(3) Cooperate with Company in perfecting an assignment of all telephone numbers used at an Approved Location in connection with the sales of Products hereunder or otherwise known or identified as numbers associated with Company, the Products or the Marks to and into the name of Company or its nominee, taking all action necessary to effect the intent of the foregoing.
(4) Immediately cause the cancellation or termination of any assumed name filings for the Approved Name or otherwise including the name "Aerus", "Lux" or "Electrolux" or any of the Marks.
(5) Immediately return to Company and Company's Affiliates all items of personal property that are then owned by Company or Company's Affiliates, including Consigned Products and any equipment and supplies to which Company or Company's Affiliates hold title.
(6) Promptly pay all sums owing to Company, Company's Affiliates, lessors and other trade creditors.
(7) Immediately deliver to Company all information (including Customer Data in physical or electronic formats) and databases described herein, and all other Confidential Information (including the Manuals) and all agreements, invoices, and any and all other materials relating to the operation of the Franchised Business in Franchisee's possession or control (including any such information or materials in the possession of any Sales Representative or Outlet Licensee), and all copies thereof.
(8) Comply with the non-competition covenants and the restrictions on Confidential Information contained herein.
F. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, Franchisee shall do any one or more of the following, at Company's option:
(1) If Franchisee operates the Franchised Business premises under a lease with a third party or, with respect to any lease for equipment used in the operation of the Franchised Business, assign to Company any interest which Franchisee has in any lease or sublease for an Approved Location or any equipment related to the Franchised Business.
(2) If Franchisee, or any Affiliate of Franchisee, owns an Approved Location, sell or lease at market rents to Company the Franchisee's business premises including any building thereon, if applicable, for the fair market value of the land and building.
(3) Sell and assign to Company any furnishings, equipment, signs, fixtures, vehicles, supplies and inventory in Franchisee's possession at the time of expiration or termination, at Franchisee's cost or fair market value, calculated in accordance with the appraisal process set forth in the Manuals, whichever is less.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 74–305)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee must immediately cease operation of the Franchised Business. This includes stopping any use of the Marks, Software and Administration Systems or the Customer Data. The franchisee must also promptly remove all signs, markings, or other writings that indicate they are an Aerus franchisee or seller of Products, and immediately discontinue all advertising or publicity associating them with Aerus. The franchisee is also responsible for instructing all publishers of any telephone directory or listing not to renew, repeat or insert any listing or advertisement using the word "Aerus", "Lux" or "Electrolux" or any other term or identifier associating Franchisee with Company.
Additionally, the Aerus franchisee must send written notice to all Sales Representatives that any license or agreement is terminated, and that such Sales Representatives must also take all other steps required of Franchisee under this Section. The franchisee must cooperate with Aerus in perfecting an assignment of all telephone numbers used at the Approved Location. They must also cause the cancellation or termination of any assumed name filings for the Approved Name or otherwise including the name "Aerus", "Lux" or "Electrolux" or any of the Marks. The franchisee must return to Aerus and Aerus's Affiliates all items of personal property that are then owned by Aerus or Aerus's Affiliates, including Consigned Products and any equipment and supplies to which Aerus or Aerus's Affiliates hold title.
Furthermore, the Aerus franchisee must promptly pay all sums owing to Aerus, Aerus's Affiliates, lessors and other trade creditors. They must immediately deliver to Aerus all information (including Customer Data in physical or electronic formats) and databases, all other Confidential Information (including the Manuals) and all agreements, invoices, and any and all other materials relating to the operation of the Franchised Business in Franchisee's possession or control (including any such information or materials in the possession of any Sales Representative), and all copies thereof. The franchisee must comply with the non-competition covenants and the restrictions on Confidential Information contained in the Franchise Agreement. At Aerus's option, the franchisee must assign to Aerus any interest in any lease or sublease for the Approved Location or any equipment related to the Franchised Business, or sell or lease at market rents to Aerus the Franchisee's business premises including any building thereon, if applicable, for the fair market value of the land and building.
Finally, termination, non-renewal or expiration of the Franchise Agreement does not cancel any indebtedness owing to Aerus or Aerus's Affiliates by the franchisee at the time of such termination. Termination of the Franchise Agreement automatically terminates any and all licenses and agreements made by Franchisee with Sales Representatives.