Can a Carvel franchisee use the Proprietary Marks for any other business?

According to Carvel's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is explicitly prohibited from using the Proprietary Marks for any business other than the Carvel franchise itself. The franchise agreement stipulates that the franchisee may not conduct any other business from the approved location without prior written consent from Carvel. This restriction extends to operating a ghost kitchen or delivery service under a different brand from the Carvel location.

This restriction ensures that the Carvel brand and its associated trademarks are exclusively used for the operation of the Carvel franchise. This prevents potential confusion among customers and maintains the integrity of the Carvel brand. It also allows Carvel to control the quality and consistency of products and services offered under its name.

Carvel does allow for the sale of approved products under the Carvel system from the shop to the ultimate consumer. Catering services and delivery services may be permitted or required, but these must adhere to Carvel's established guidelines and restrictions. Delivery services must be provided through a Carvel-approved third-party service.

Overall, this policy is typical in franchising, where franchisors closely guard their trademarks and brand identity. A prospective Carvel franchisee should understand that their business activities must remain strictly within the scope of the Carvel franchise and any deviations require explicit approval from Carvel.