Which sections of the Augusta Lawn Care FDD cover advertising?
Augusta_Lawn_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 11: FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING]
You must include in any significant display advertisements, and in marketing materials for your Augusta Lawn Care Business, a notice that your Augusta Lawn Care Business is individually owned and operated. Subject to any legal restrictions, you also are required to display or make available in your Augusta Lawn Care Business's reception area, marketing materials that we may provide to you about the purchase of Augusta Lawn Care franchises, but you have no responsibility or authority to act for us in franchise sales.
You may not solicit business outside your Territory through the use of a toll-free number, direct mail, website, social media platform, or other advertising method without our prior written approval. You may not establish your own website or social media platforms without approval. We are not required to spend any amount on advertising in your territory.
At our option, we may establish one or more websites to advertise, market and promote the System and the franchise opportunity. We currently maintain the website www.augustalawncareservices.com; however, we are not obligated to continue to maintain that website, and are not barred from (or required to) creating additional or replacement websites. In any website now in existence or hereinafter-created, we may provide you with a listing for your location, or a web page to promote your business, if you provide us with the information that we request to develop your web page. Our system standard will apply to any website advertising.
We do not require contribution to the National Advertising and Development Fund.
While you are not obligated to spend on local advertising, if you do, you must submit to us, for our approval, all media and materials to be used for local advertising, unless the media and/or materials have been approved before or unless we provided the materials to you. All materials containing our proprietary marks must include the designation service mark SM, trademark ™, registered trademark ®, copyright ©, or any other designation we specify. If you do not receive written or oral approval of any materials submitted within 30 days from the date we receive the materials, the materials are disapproved. We may require you to withdraw and/or discontinue the use of any promotional materials or advertising, even if previously approved. We must make this requirement in writing, and you have 5 days after receipt of our notice to withdraw and/or discontinue use of the materials or advertising. Your submission of advertising for our approval does not affect your right to determine the prices at which you sell your services.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 21–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Augusta Lawn Care Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 11, titled "Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems and Training," contains multiple sections that address advertising-related topics. These sections cover various aspects of advertising, including pre-opening marketing assistance, franchisee obligations for including ownership notices in advertisements, restrictions on soliciting business outside the designated territory, the establishment and maintenance of system websites, and access to print and television advertisements. Item 11 also discusses local advertising guidelines and the use of proprietary marks in advertising materials.
Specifically, the FDD states that Augusta Lawn Care will assist franchisees in implementing an opening marketing initiative. It also outlines the franchisee's responsibility to include a notice in significant display advertisements and marketing materials indicating that the business is individually owned and operated. Furthermore, franchisees are restricted from soliciting business outside their territory through various advertising methods without prior written approval from Augusta Lawn Care.
Augusta Lawn Care may establish websites to promote the system and franchise opportunity, potentially providing franchisees with a listing or webpage. While franchisees are not obligated to spend on local advertising, any local advertising materials must be submitted for approval, ensuring compliance with brand standards. The FDD also clarifies that Augusta Lawn Care does not require contributions to a National Advertising and Development Fund, giving franchisees more control over their advertising spend.