Are Better Blend franchisees allowed to engage in Digital Marketing?
Better_Blend Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Without limiting the generality of Section 9.1, Franchisee shall not, directly or indirectly, conduct or be involved in any Digital Marketing without the prior written consent of BBF. If BBF permits Franchisee to conduct any Digital Marketing, Franchisee must (a) comply with any System Standards and must immediately modify or delete any Digital Marketing that BBF determines, in its sole discretion, is not compliant with such System Standards; (b) only use materials that BBF has approved and submit any proposed modifications to BBF for approval; (c) not use any Mark (or words or designations similar to any Mark) in any domain name, electronic address, website, or other source identifier except as BBF expressly permits; (d) include only the links that BBF approves or requires; and (e) immediately take all actions necessary or that BBF requests to provide BBF with access to, or to transfer ownership of, all Digital Marketing relating to the Business to Franchisor, including, without limitation, providing login and password details and promptly signing all directions and authorizations as BBF deems necessary to effect the intent and provisions of this Section. If Franchisee uses any Mark (or words or designations similar to a Mark) in any domain name, electronic address, website, or other source identifier, BBF may register such name, address, website, or identifier and then license use of the registered item back to Franchisee under a separate agreement. Franchisee must pay all costs due for registration, maintenance, and renewal of any such names, addresses, websites, or identifiers that BBF approves and maintains on Franchisee's behalf. BBF may withdraw its approval for any Digital Marketing at any time.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 43)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Better Blend's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are permitted to conduct digital marketing, but only with prior written consent from Better Blend. This consent is contingent upon several stipulations to ensure brand consistency and control.
Specifically, franchisees must adhere to Better Blend's System Standards, modifying or deleting any digital marketing content that the franchisor deems non-compliant. Franchisees are restricted to using only approved materials and must seek approval for any proposed modifications. The use of Better Blend's Marks in domain names, electronic addresses, websites, or other source identifiers is strictly controlled and requires express permission. Furthermore, franchisees must include only approved links and grant Better Blend full access to, or ownership of, all digital marketing assets related to the business, including providing login details and signing necessary authorizations.
Better Blend retains the right to register any domain names, electronic addresses, or websites using its Marks and then license their use back to the franchisee under a separate agreement. The franchisee is responsible for all costs associated with the registration, maintenance, and renewal of these items. Moreover, Better Blend can withdraw its approval for any digital marketing efforts at any time, giving them significant control over the franchisee's online presence. This level of control is common in franchising to maintain brand uniformity and protect the brand's reputation across all locations.