What must a Bhc franchisee do with data relating to the Franchisor after the termination of the Franchise Agreement?

According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination of the Franchise Agreement, a franchisee has specific obligations regarding data and materials related to Bhc. The franchisee must return all copies of the Operations Manual and other proprietary materials provided by Bhc at no expense to the franchisor. Furthermore, the franchisee is obligated to permanently erase anything relating to Bhc or the franchised business from any computers and other media storage devices they retain after the termination, cancellation, or expiration of the agreement.

This requirement ensures that the franchisee no longer has access to Bhc's confidential information and trade secrets after the agreement ends. This prevents the franchisee from potentially using this information to compete with Bhc or to operate a similar business that could harm the brand. The franchisee is responsible for ensuring that all digital and physical materials are either returned or destroyed to protect Bhc's proprietary assets.

Additionally, the franchisee must discontinue using Bhc's marks and trade dress, and take steps to remove references to the franchise from online review sites and directories. This includes contacting these sites to request the removal of all trademarks associated with the former Bhc restaurant and any reviews from the period the franchisee operated under the Bhc brand. These measures collectively ensure a clean break between the franchisee and Bhc, preventing any confusion or continued association after the termination of the agreement.