What constitutes unfair competition related to a Bee Organized franchise?
Bee_Organized Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
of the Franchised Business and where such director, officer, employee and/or agent previously executed and timely delivered to Franchisor the Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit 2.
6.D. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND IN-TERM NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall not engage in the following activities (the "Prohibited Activities"): (a) owning and/or having any legal or equitable interest whether, as an individual proprietor, owner, partner, member or shareholder of a Corporate Entity, or, in any similar capacity, in a Competitive Business other than, owning an interest of 3% or less in a publicly traded company that is a Competitive Business; (b) operating, managing, funding and/or performing services whether, as an employee, officer, director, manager, consultant, representative, agent, and/or creditor or, in any similar capacity, for or benefitting a Competitive Business; (c) diverting or attempting to divert any business or clients from Franchisor or, one of Franchisor's affiliates or franchisees; (d) inducing any customer or client of Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates, franchisees of the System, or, of Franchisee, to any other person or business that is not a Bee Organized Business; and/or (e) engaging in any actions, inactions, and/or activities in violation of Articles 6.B. and/or 6.C. of this Agreement (all, individually and collectively, referred to as the "Prohibited Activities"). Franchisee agrees that if Franchisee were to engage in the Prohibited Activities that such actions would be unfair, would constitute unfair competition and would cause harm to Franchisor, the System and other Bee Organized Business franchisees. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and obligations shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.
6.E. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND POST-TERMINATION NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that during the Post-Term Restricted Period, Franchisee shall not engage in any Prohibited Activities provided, however, that the Prohibited Activities relating to Franchisee's having an interest in a Competitive Business will only apply with respect to a Competitive Business that is located within a Restricted Territory. If Franchisee is engaged in any Prohibited Activities during the Post-Term Restricted Period, Franchisee agrees that Franchisee's Post-Term Restricted Period will be extended by the period of time during which Franchisee was engaging in the Prohibited Activity and, any such extension of time will not be construed as a waiver of Franchisee's breach or otherwise impair any of Franchisor's rights or remedies relating to Franchisee's breach. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and restrictions shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1. Franchisee agrees that the covenants and restrictions set forth in this Article 6.E. and otherwise in this Article 6, are fair and reasonable and that if Franchisee engaged in any Prohibited Activity that such actions would constitute acts of unfair competition, causing irreparable harm to Franchisor and the System.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 54–218)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bee Organized Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees agree not to engage in activities considered "Prohibited Activities" during the term of their agreement, as these would be deemed unfair competition. These prohibited activities include owning or having an interest in a competitive business (with a minor exception of owning 3% or less in a publicly traded company), operating or performing services for a competitive business, diverting business or clients from Bee Organized, or inducing Bee Organized clients to use a different business. These restrictions also apply to the franchisee's owners and spouses, who must sign a Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty.
For Bee Organized, a "Competitive Business" is defined as any business that is the same as or similar to a Bee Organized Business, or one that offers, sells, or provides home organization services. This definition is important for franchisees to understand, as it sets the boundaries for what activities could be considered a breach of the franchise agreement.
After the franchise term, these restrictions continue during a "Post-Term Restricted Period." During this time, franchisees cannot engage in prohibited activities within a restricted territory. If a franchisee violates these post-term restrictions, the restricted period will be extended by the duration of the violation. Bee Organized emphasizes that these covenants are considered fair and reasonable, and any violation would cause irreparable harm to the franchisor and the Bee Organized system.