Is the provision of standard web pages by Annex Brands included in the technology services fee?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| We may maintain a corporate website on the Internet to market and promote our franchise system, and products and services marketed by us and our franchisees. If we maintain a corporate website, we may provide you with standard web pages on our website for the purpose of promoting your retail center (included in the technology services fee). You also may request to customize portions of your web pages or create a custom website, with our written approval and for a fee, or may purchase e-commerce services with our approval and for a fee. You may not establish your own website without our prior written consent. (The terms "Franchisor's prior written consent" and "our prior written consent," as used in this disclosure document and the franchise agreement and its attachments, mean consent that we give based on then-current circumstances, but that may be withdrawn by us, if we later determine in our sole discretion that circumstances have changed, effective upon giving you 30 days' prior written notice of withdrawal.) If we provide email addresses for your retail center, you may use up to 2 email addresses per retail center (included in the technology services fee). There will be a $7 charge per week for each additional email address. This fee is subject to change on at least 15 days' written notice to you. You must use the email addresses we provide you for all aspects of the operation of your center, including in customer communications, in print or digital marketing, advertising or promotions, on letterhead and business cards, etc. You may not establish or use your own email addresses without our prior written consent. See Item 6 and Attachment 8 to the franchise agreement for more information.
We also may establish a private Intranet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, or libraries for our franchisees that can be accessed only by means of user names and passwords. You must follow our policies and procedures. We may change your password without notice if an alleged compromise exists. We may suspend your access to our Intranet if we give you written notice that you are in default of the franchise agreement. See Attachment 8 to the franchise agreement.
We may establish a brand presence through email marketing programs, social media platforms, online directory listings, and other networking platforms, such as Facebook, Google Business Profile, and Yelp. You may not use email marketing programs, social media platforms, online directory listings or other networking platforms that promote your retail center and/or use our trademarks without our prior written consent.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 45–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Annex Brands's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the technology services fee covers the provision of standard web pages. Specifically, Annex Brands may maintain a corporate website to promote the franchise system, and if they do, franchisees may receive standard web pages on that site to promote their individual retail center. This service is included in the technology services fee.
However, franchisees have the option to customize their web pages or create a custom website, but this requires written approval from Annex Brands and will incur additional fees. Franchisees can also purchase e-commerce services with approval and for a fee. It is important to note that franchisees are not allowed to establish their own website without prior written consent from Annex Brands.
In addition to standard web pages, the technology services fee also covers up to two email addresses for the retail center. Additional email addresses are available for a fee of $7 per week for each additional address. Franchisees are required to use the email addresses provided by Annex Brands for all aspects of their center's operations, including customer communications and marketing materials. Similar to websites, franchisees cannot establish or use their own email addresses without prior written consent from Annex Brands.
The technology services fee is $16 per week, collected each Tuesday. This fee supports the system Internet, Intranet communications website, sales tracking and reporting system, up to two retail center email addresses, remote support login agent, and other business features that Annex Brands may provide. Annex Brands reserves the right to change this fee with at least 15 days' notice.