After the termination of a Brightstar Care franchise, what are franchisees and their owners prohibited from doing regarding identifying themselves in business?

According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, after the termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, franchisees and their owners face specific restrictions regarding how they identify themselves in business. They are prohibited from directly or indirectly identifying themselves in any business as a current or former BrightStar Care Agency or as a current or former franchisee of BrightStar Care. This restriction applies at any time after the termination or expiration, unless they own and operate other BrightStar Care Agencies.

Additionally, franchisees and their owners cannot use any Licensed Mark, any imitation of a Licensed Mark, or any trademark, service mark, or commercial symbol that is confusingly similar to any Licensed Mark. They are also barred from using any trade dress, trade name, trademark, service mark, or other commercial symbol that suggests a connection or association with Brightstar Care.

These post-term obligations are designed to protect Brightstar Care's brand identity and prevent confusion in the marketplace. A franchisee needs to be aware of these restrictions, as violating them could lead to legal consequences. It is a common practice in franchising to have such non-compete and de-identification clauses to maintain brand consistency and protect the franchisor's intellectual property.