If Casiola Franchisor institutes an Advertising Cooperative that includes a franchisee's Operating Market, what is the franchisee obligated to do?
Casiola Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
- (1) If Franchisor previously instituted or, in the future, institutes an Advertising Cooperative that includes, in whole or in part, Franchisee's Operating Market or Franchisee's Casiola Business Location, Franchisee shall participate in and make such on-going financial contributions to the Advertising Cooperative, as determined by the Advertising Cooperative;
- (2) Franchisor may establish foundational and organizational requirements of the Advertising Cooperative including voting provisions that allows the Advertising Cooperative to make decisions based on the simple majority vote (one vote per franchisee Casiola Business located within the designated area of the Advertising Cooperative) with a quorum constituting 25% of those franchisees within the Advertising Cooperative;
- (3) Unless otherwise authorized and approved by Franchisor in writing, each Advertising Cooperative shall be organized for the exclusive purpose of administering marketing programs and the development of media (all subject to the review and approval of Franchisor) for use by members of the Advertising Cooperative in local or regional marketing;
- (4) If at the time of execution of this Agreement an Advertising Cooperative has been established for a geographic area that includes, in whole or in part, Franchisee's Casiola Business location or Operating Market, or if such Advertising Cooperative is established during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall fully participate in the Advertising Cooperative and Franchisee shall execute, at the request of Franchisor, all documents required by Franchisor and Franchisee shall become a member of the Advertising Cooperative subject to the terms of those documents;
- (5) Franchisee shall contribute to the Advertising Cooperative in the amounts as determined and required by the Advertising Cooperative or, otherwise in accordance with those documents governing the operation of the Advertising Cooperative; provided, however, Franchisee's contributions to the Advertising Cooperative shall not exceed Franchisee's local minimum marketing obligations set forth
in Article 9.B. of this Agreement and Franchisee's contributions to the Advertising Cooperative shall count toward satisfaction of Franchisee's minimum local marketing obligations set forth in Article 9.B.;
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
- (6) Franchisee shall submit to the Advertising Cooperative and to Franchisor such statements and reports as may be required by the Advertising Cooperative and approved by Franchisor. All contributions to the Advertising Cooperative shall be maintained and administered in accordance with the documents governing the Advertising Cooperative. The Advertising Cooperative shall be operated solely for the purpose of collection and expenditure of the Advertising Cooperative's fees for the purpose set forth in this Article 9.C.;
- (7) No marketing materials, plans, or media may be used by the Advertising Cooperative or its members without the prior written approval of Franchisor;
- (8) Casiola Businesses owned by Franchisor and/or Franchisor's affiliates that are located within the geographic area of the designated Advertising Cooperative are not required to make contributions to the Advertising Cooperative; and
- (9) The Advertising Cooperative must comply with the rules and regulations established by Franchisor in the Operations Manual which may be modified by Franchisor from time to time.
9.D. REQUIRED FRANCHISOR APPROVAL OF ALL MARKETING
At all times Franchisor, in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment, possesses the right to authorize, establish, designate and de-authorize a local or regional advertising cooperative within those markets that Franchisor designates (the "Advertising Cooperative"). Franchisee agrees that Franchisor possesses the sole and exclusive right to designate any geographic area in which two or more Casiola Business franchises are located as a region for the purpose of establishing an Advertising Cooperative. If Franchisee's Casiola Business or Operating Market is located within the geographic area of an Advertising Cooperative, franchisee must participate in and contribute to the Advertising Cooperative. Franchisee agrees to the following:
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 47–209)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Casiola's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, if Casiola institutes an Advertising Cooperative that includes a franchisee's Operating Market or Casiola Business location, the franchisee is obligated to participate in the cooperative and make ongoing financial contributions as determined by the Advertising Cooperative.
Casiola possesses the sole and exclusive right to designate any geographic area in which two or more Casiola Business franchises are located as a region for the purpose of establishing an Advertising Cooperative. If a franchisee's Casiola Business or Operating Market falls within the area of an Advertising Cooperative, the franchisee must participate and contribute to it. The franchisee must also execute all documents required by Casiola and become a member of the Advertising Cooperative, adhering to its terms.
The franchisee's contributions to the Advertising Cooperative will be in the amounts determined and required by the cooperative. However, these contributions will not exceed the franchisee's local minimum marketing obligations as outlined in Article 9.B of the Franchise Agreement, and they will count toward satisfying these minimum local marketing obligations.
Franchisees are also required to submit statements and reports to both the Advertising Cooperative and Casiola as requested and approved by Casiola. All marketing materials, plans, or media used by the Advertising Cooperative or its members must receive prior written approval from Casiola. Casiola Businesses owned by Casiola or its affiliates within the Advertising Cooperative's area are not required to contribute to the cooperative.