Is a Cd One Price Cleaners franchisee allowed to copy or duplicate the Manual?
Cd_One_Price_Cleaners Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
8. CONFIDENTIAL MANUAL AND INFORMATION
- 8.1 Keeping Manual Confidential.
Franchisee shall treat the Manual, and the information contained therein, as confidential, and shall use all reasonable efforts to maintain such information as secret and confidential.
Franchisee shall not at any time copy, duplicate, record or otherwise reproduce the foregoing materials, in whole or in part, nor otherwise make the same available to any unauthorized person.
The Manual shall at all times remain the sole property of Franchisor.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 72–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cd One Price Cleaners' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from copying or duplicating the operations manual. The manual contains confidential information vital to the operation of a Cd One Price Cleaners store, and the franchisor retains sole ownership of the manual. Franchisees must treat the manual and its contents as confidential, using reasonable efforts to keep the information secret.
This restriction means a franchisee cannot make copies of the manual for training purposes, create digital backups, or share the information with unauthorized parties. The franchisee is responsible for ensuring that only employees who need access to the manual for their job duties are allowed to view it, and that these employees also maintain the confidentiality of the information. This obligation extends both during the term of the franchise agreement and after its expiration or termination.
The franchisor may provide updates or substitutions to the manual, potentially through an electronic version on a restricted extranet website. Franchisees are responsible for keeping their manual current with these changes. Any passwords or digital identifications required to access the online manual are also considered confidential information. Failure to comply with these confidentiality requirements could result in irreparable injury to the franchisor and other franchisees, as the operating plans and methods are considered trade secrets.