Can a prospective Budget franchisee view the Budget Manual before purchasing a franchise, and if so, what is required?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may view the Manual before you purchase a Budget Franchise if you sign the Confidentiality Agreement attached to this disclosure document as Exhibit D (the Budget License Agreement, Article III). You cannot, during the term of your Budget License Agreement or after the Agreement is terminated:
- a) reproduce, exhibit, or disclose the Manual, or any confidential element of or information about a Budget Franchise, to anyone other than your partners, shareholders, directors, and employees; or
- b) disclose any confidential information communicated to your partners, shareholders, directors, and employees by or at the direction of Budget.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–61)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, prospective franchisees can view the Budget Manual before purchasing a franchise. To do so, they must sign the Confidentiality Agreement attached to the FDD as Exhibit D. This allows potential franchisees to review the operational guidelines and procedures outlined in the manual before committing to the franchise.
The Budget Manual contains confidential information and remains the property of Budget. The manual provides franchisees with essential details on how to operate their Budget franchise effectively. Budget retains the right to modify the manual to improve the efficiency, image, or goodwill of its brand and franchises, but these modifications will not affect the franchisee's rights under the Budget License Agreement.
After signing the confidentiality agreement, a prospective franchisee can review the manual to better understand the obligations and operational expectations of a Budget franchise. Franchisees must return the manual to Budget when required under the Budget License Agreement. This ensures that the confidential information contained within the manual remains protected and that franchisees adhere to the most current operational standards set by Budget.