Does Annex Brands guarantee the maintenance of a corporate website?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor may, but is not required to, maintain a corporate website on the Internet to market and promote the System and the products and services marketed by Franchisee. If Franchisor maintains a website, Franchisor may, but is not required to, establish and maintain a private Intranet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and libraries, for use by Franchisee. Franchisor may, but is not required to, maintain a designated area on its corporate website for the purpose of promoting the Center or otherwise permitting an electronic link from Franchisor's website to a website that Franchisee maintains, subject to Franchisor's prior written consent. Franchisor may, but is not required to, provide email addresses to Franchisee for the Center. Franchisee must use the email addresses Franchisor provides Franchisee for all aspects of the operation of the Center, including in customer communications, in print or digital marketing/advertising or promotions, on letterhead and business cards, etc. Franchisee may not establish or use another email addresses without Franchisor's prior written consent. The corporate website (if established), related websites, the private Intranet, the Center's email addresses, and any other Franchisee website or email addresses, will be governed by Franchisor's Internet Policies and Procedure Agreement (Attachment 8), or otherwise may be modified by us.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 109–110)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Annex Brands' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Annex Brands does not guarantee the maintenance of a corporate website. The FDD states that Annex Brands "may, but is not required to, maintain a corporate website on the Internet to market and promote the System and the products and services marketed by Franchisee." This means that Annex Brands has the option to have a website, but is not obligated to do so.
Annex Brands also has the option of creating a private Intranet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and libraries for franchisees. If Annex Brands maintains a website, it may also choose to have a designated area on its corporate website to promote the Center or permit an electronic link from Annex Brands' website to a website that the franchisee maintains, but this is also not required. If Annex Brands provides email addresses to the franchisee for the Center, the franchisee must use those email addresses for all aspects of the Center's operation, and the franchisee may not establish or use other email addresses without Annex Brands' prior written consent.
Because Annex Brands does not guarantee a corporate website, prospective franchisees should be prepared to handle their own marketing and promotion, or to operate without a corporate online presence if Annex Brands chooses not to maintain a website. Franchisees should inquire about Annex Brands' current plans for maintaining a corporate website and what support, if any, is offered for franchisee-created websites.