What does Brightstar Care consider to be included in its 'Confidential Information'?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We consider all information in the Operations Manual to be proprietary and confidential and our trade secrets. Our "Confidential Information" includes know-how, knowledge, methods, specifications, processes, procedures and/or improvements relating to the BrightStar Care Agency Program, methods of site selection, marketing methods, recruiting, service analysis and selection, service methods and skills, prospective and current client lists and client information (including National Accounts clients), employee information, and any other business information that is not generally known to our competitors.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 77–79)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the brand considers specific information to be proprietary and confidential, including trade secrets. This 'Confidential Information' encompasses a wide array of business-critical data. It includes know-how, knowledge, methods, specifications, processes, procedures, and improvements related to the BrightStar Care Agency Program.
Brightstar Care's definition extends to methods of site selection, marketing, recruiting, service analysis and selection, service methods and skills. It also covers prospective and current client lists and client information, including National Accounts clients, and employee information. The definition explicitly includes any other business information not generally known to Brightstar Care's competitors.
This broad definition of Confidential Information means that franchisees must exercise caution in how they handle and disseminate any information related to the Brightstar Care business. Franchisees are only permitted to share confidential information with employees who need it to operate the Agency, and those employees must sign a confidentiality agreement. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their proprietary systems and methods.