Is the Bhc franchisee required to provide Bhc with a copy of the signed release from employees?
Bhc Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee also agrees (i) to have any affected employee of Franchisee who is not a Principal Equity Operator sign a release in the form contained in the Operations Manual authorizing Franchisor to also use the employee's name, image and likeness for the purposes described in this section 9.1(d), without compensation or remuneration, and (ii) to provide Franchisor with a copy of such signed release.
The terms of this section 9.1(d) survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–230)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to obtain signed releases from certain employees and provide a copy to Bhc. Specifically, any employee who is not a Principal Equity Operator must sign a release that authorizes Bhc to use their name, image, and likeness for commercial purposes related to marketing and promotion. This use will be without any form of compensation or remuneration to the employee.
The franchisee is responsible for ensuring these releases are signed by the relevant employees and for providing copies of the signed releases to Bhc. This requirement is outlined in Section 9.1(d) of the franchise agreement, and it remains in effect even after the termination or expiration of the agreement.
This provision allows Bhc to leverage the images and likenesses of the franchisee's employees in its broader marketing efforts, which is a fairly common practice in franchising. Franchisees should ensure they understand this requirement and have a process in place to obtain and manage these releases to remain compliant with the franchise agreement. The form for the release is found in the Operations Manual.