Is an Aplus franchisee allowed to place advertising relating to the sale of their franchised business without the prior written consent of the franchisor?
Aplus Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Franchisee shall submit to Franchisor, for its prior approval, all advertising and promotional materials to be used by Franchisee including, but not limited to, billboards, television ads, radio ads, ad copy, coupons, flyers, scripts, sponsorships, and direct mail. Franchisor shall use reasonable efforts to provide notice of approval or disapproval within thirty (30) days from the date all requested material is received by Franchisor. If Franchisor does not approve submitted materials by the end of such thirty (30) day period, such materials shall be deemed to have not received the required approval. Franchisee shall not use any marketing or promotional material prior to written approval by Franchisor.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–302)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Aplus Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must obtain prior written approval from Aplus for all advertising and promotional materials. This requirement extends to all advertising materials, including billboards, television ads, radio ads, ad copy, coupons, flyers, scripts, sponsorships, and direct mail.
Specifically, an Aplus franchisee is required to submit all advertising and promotional materials to Aplus for approval. Aplus will then make reasonable efforts to notify the franchisee of approval or disapproval within 30 days of receiving the materials. If Aplus fails to respond within this 30-day period, the materials are considered unapproved.
Therefore, an Aplus franchisee is not allowed to place advertising relating to the sale of their franchised business without the prior written consent of Aplus. This pre-approval process ensures that all marketing efforts align with Aplus's brand standards and marketing strategies.