For a Bath Tune Up franchise, who is responsible for the expense of obtaining and maintaining telephone service for the Franchised Business?
Bath_Tune_Up Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
8.4. Telephone Numbers and Advertising
- (a) At its expense, Franchisee will obtain and maintain a telephone service for the Franchised Business. Franchisee may insert this telephone number in its directory listings, business cards, and stationery in conjunction with the Franchised Business, but may otherwise advertise this telephone number only with Franchisor's prior written consent. If Franchisee operates the Franchised Business from Franchisee's residence, the business number must be separate from Franchisee's personal (residential) telephone number. If Franchisee is engaged in businesses other than the Franchised Business, Franchisee must maintain different telephone numbers and may make no reference to the Franchised Business in any listings in respect of the other businesses. At the time of termination of this Agreement, for any reason, Franchisee will comply with the provisions of Section 12.1(b) below, with respect to telephone numbers.
- (b) Upon termination of this Agreement, for any reason, Franchisor will retain or change the telephone number relating to the Franchised Business in its sole discretion and Franchisee will do all things necessary or appropriate to transfer the telephone number to Franchisor, including paying any outstanding accounts with any directories and telephone service providers, and will not provide a call forwarding or telephone number referral with respect to any retained or disconnected telephone number. At any time during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisor may require Franchisee to sign a telephone supersedure form applicable to the telephone number relating to the Franchised Business. Furthermore, upon termination, Franchisee will not indicate in any manner it was previously affiliated with Franchisor.
- (c) Franchisor may impose other requirements concerning telephones and telephone numbers in the Manuals. Among other requirements that may be imposed in the Manuals, Franchisor may require that Franchisee's telephones be answered by a live person (either an employee of Franchisee or an answering service) during regular business hours, rather than using voice-mail or a telephone answering machine and that Franchisee utilize call tracking technology as may be prescribed by Franchisor in the Manuals.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 52)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bath Tune Up's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for the expense of obtaining and maintaining telephone service for the Franchised Business. The franchisee must obtain and maintain a telephone service at their own expense and may include this number on business cards and stationery. However, advertising the telephone number requires prior written consent from Bath Tune Up.
If the Bath Tune Up franchise is operated from the franchisee's residence, the business telephone number must be separate from the franchisee's personal telephone number. If the franchisee is involved in other businesses, they must maintain different telephone numbers and cannot reference the Bath Tune Up franchise in any listings for those other businesses.
Upon termination of the franchise agreement, Bath Tune Up has the right to retain or change the telephone number associated with the Franchised Business. The franchisee is obligated to transfer the telephone number to Bath Tune Up, which includes settling any outstanding accounts with directories and telephone service providers. The franchisee is also prohibited from providing call forwarding or telephone number referrals after termination and must not indicate any previous affiliation with Bath Tune Up.
Bath Tune Up may also impose additional requirements regarding telephone usage in its Manuals, such as requiring a live person to answer the phone during business hours instead of using voicemail and utilizing call tracking technology.