Under what conditions can a Brain Balance franchisee conduct individual email communications without prior written approval?

According to the 2025 Brain Balance Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can conduct individual email communications without obtaining the company's prior written approval if the content of those communications complies with the requirements and restrictions outlined in the Brain Balance Operations Manual. This means that while franchisees have some autonomy in their email communications, they must adhere to the brand standards and guidelines set by Brain Balance.

However, the FDD also states that a franchisee must obtain the company's prior written approval for any and all email addresses other than the email address assigned to the franchisee by the company. Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from obtaining (800), (888), or similar toll-free telephone numbers or using any email address containing the words "BBF," "Brain Balance®," or "Brain Balance Program®" as part of the telephone number or address, except as may be set forth in the Operations Manual.

In practical terms, this policy allows Brain Balance to maintain control over its brand image and ensure consistent messaging across all franchise locations, while still allowing franchisees some flexibility in their individual communications. Franchisees need to be thoroughly familiar with the Operations Manual to ensure compliance and avoid potential violations of the franchise agreement. It is also important to note that these restrictions do not apply to the franchisee's independent social media presence, including the use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.