Are emailed signatures considered original signatures for the Annex Brands franchise agreement?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute 1 document. Emailed or other electronic signatures of the parties will be deemed to constitute original signatures, and emailed or other electronic copies hereof will be deemed to constitute duplicate original counterparts.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 109–110)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Annex Brands's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, emailed or other electronic signatures are considered original signatures for the franchise agreement. The agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which is considered an original, and all of which together constitute one document.
This means that franchisees and Annex Brands can sign the franchise agreement and related documents electronically, which simplifies and speeds up the signing process. It also confirms that electronic copies of the agreement are considered duplicate original counterparts.
This clause provides convenience and efficiency in executing the franchise agreement, aligning with modern business practices that accept electronic signatures as legally binding. Franchisees do not need to physically sign and mail documents, reducing administrative overhead.