Under what conditions can an Aerus franchisee conduct business over the internet?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without Company's prior written approval, Franchisee shall not (1) conduct the Franchised Business under any actual or assumed name other than the Approved Name, (2) sell to any person or entity that is not an Approved Customer, (3) advertise, market or solicit sales outside of the Area of Responsibility, (4) sell to any person not residing within the Area of Responsibility, (5) conduct any aspect of the Franchised Business by, through, over or on the internet or world wide web, including without limitation, advertising, marketing and solicitation, unless or until Company establishes a Company sponsored program for such conduct by Franchisees and, then, only as part of and in accordance with such program, (6) use any trade name, trademark or service mark in connection with the Franchised Business other than the Marks (and then only in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Policies and Procedures, the Manuals and any specific guidelines imposed by Company), (7) advertise or sell any product or service from the Approved Location or through the Franchised Business bearing any trade name, trademark or service mark other than the Marks, (8) sell any product or service that is not a Product, or (9) permit any Product to be sold from any
physical location other than the Approved Location, by any Person other than an authorized representative of Franchisee or in a manner otherwise inconsistent with the System.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 74–305)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally restricted from conducting any aspect of their business over the internet. Specifically, this includes advertising, marketing, and soliciting sales through online channels.
However, this restriction is not absolute. An Aerus franchisee can engage in online business activities if the company establishes a company-sponsored program for franchisees to do so. In that case, the franchisee can participate in online activities only as part of and in accordance with the established program. This implies that Aerus retains control over the online presence and marketing strategies of its franchisees, ensuring brand consistency and compliance.
This policy is fairly common in franchising, as franchisors often want to maintain a consistent brand image and control marketing efforts. Prospective Aerus franchisees should inquire about the details of any existing or planned company-sponsored internet programs to understand the extent to which they can utilize online channels for their business.