Can a Bumper Man franchisee engage in co-branding with the Bumper Business?
Bumper_Man Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (a) Standards. Franchisee understands the importance of maintaining uniformity among all of the Bumper Businesses and the importance of complying with the Standards relating to the operation of the Bumper Business. Franchisee may not engage in any cobranding in or with the Bumper Business or operate any other business during the Term (provided nothing contained in this Section 6(a) will prohibit Franchisee's Operating Principal (if Franchisee is an Entity) from engaging in another business that is not a Competitive Business during hours in which Customers within the Designated Area are not open for business for the purposes of supplemental income). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Franchisor may allow for a deviation from the Standards at its sole option.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 45–180)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bumper Man Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally prohibited from engaging in co-branding activities with their Bumper Business. The FDD states that franchisees must maintain uniformity among all Bumper Businesses and strictly adhere to the operational standards. However, there is a slight exception for the franchisee's Operating Principal.
Specifically, the Operating Principal, if the franchisee is an entity, may engage in another business for supplemental income, provided that the other business is not a Competitive Business and operates outside the hours when Bumper Man customers in the Designated Area are open for business. This exception is narrowly defined and does not permit co-branding of the Bumper Man business itself.
Bumper Man retains the right to allow deviations from these standards at its sole discretion. This means that while co-branding is generally prohibited, a franchisee could potentially seek permission from Bumper Man for an exception to this rule. However, such exceptions are not guaranteed and would be subject to Bumper Man's approval.