Who has the right to create and control the website for a Big Apple Bagels franchisee's store?
Big_Apple_Bagels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
any websites, social media accounts or domain names which
incorporate any of the Marks, name or initials into its web address. Franchisee is prohibited from establishing websites or domain names linking to the BAB websites without the prior written authorization of BAB.
- (b) Franchisor will have the sole right to create, establish, own, and control the website for Franchisee's BAGELS Store.
- (c) Franchisor will have the sole right to create, establish, own, and monitor all Social Media postings for Franchisee's BAGELS Store. Franchisee may participate in the content and maintenance of Social Media for Franchisee's BAGELS Store, only in accordance with Franchisor's guidelines and subject to Franchisor's right to alter or delete postings made by Franchisee.
- (d) Franchisor will have the sole right to control all aspects of Digital Marketing, including those related to Franchisee's BIG APPLE BAGELS Store. Unless Franchisor consents otherwise in writing, Franchisee may not, directly or indirectly, conduct or be involved in any Digital Marketing that uses the Marks or is related to Franchisee's BIG APPLE BAGELS Store. If Franchisor does give Franchisee written consent to conduct any Digital Marketing, Franchisee must do so in compliance with Franchisor's guidelines, specifications, standards, policies or procedures Franchisor may issue from time to time on Digital Marketing.
- p.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 86–87)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big Apple Bagels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor maintains complete authority over the creation, ownership, and control of the franchisee's store website. This means that franchisees are not permitted to independently establish a website for their Big Apple Bagels store. Additionally, franchisees are prohibited from using the Big Apple Bagels trademarks, names, or initials in any web address without prior written consent from the franchisor. They also cannot create domain names that link to the franchisor's websites without authorization.
This policy ensures brand consistency and uniformity across all Big Apple Bagels online presences. By centralizing control of the websites, the franchisor can maintain quality control over the content, marketing messages, and overall customer experience. This approach is common in franchising, where brand standards are paramount.
For a prospective franchisee, this means they will not have direct control over their store's website. Instead, they must rely on the franchisor to manage the online presence. While this limits the franchisee's autonomy, it also relieves them of the responsibility and potential costs associated with website development and maintenance. Franchisees should inquire about the franchisor's strategy for updating the website with local information like store hours, contact details, and promotions.