In dealings with City Publications, are the dealings solely between the franchisee and City Publications?
City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor may elect at any time to arrange for cooperative advertising. Additionally, Franchisee may, with other franchisees, elect among themselves to establish cooperative advertising for a select area encompassing their mutual Exclusive territories.
C. Internet Advertising
Franchisor has established and maintains an Internet website at the uniform resource locator ("URL") www.citypublication.com that provides information about the CITY PUBLICATIONS System and the services that Franchisor and its franchisees provide. Franchisor shall establish a website for the Franchised Business and a link between such website and the CITY PUBLICATIONS website. Franchisee is solely responsible for the maintenance of the website for the Franchised Business. Franchisor may (but is not required to) include at the CITY PUBLICATIONS website an interior page containing information about the Franchised Business. If Franchisor includes such information on the CITY PUBLICATIONS website, Franchisor may require Franchisee to prepare all or a portion of the page, at Franchisee's expense, using a template that Franchisor provides. All such information shall be subject to Franchisor's approval prior to posting. Franchisor retains the sole right to market on the Internet, including all use of websites, domain names, URL's, linking, meta-tags, marketing, auction sites, e-commerce and co-branding arrangements. Franchisee may be requested to provide Franchisor content for Franchisor's Internet marketing and shall be required to follow Franchisor's Intranet and Internet usage rules, policies and requirements. Franchisor retains the sole right to use the Marks on the Internet, including on websites, as domain names, directory addresses, search terms, meta-tags, and in connection with linking, marketing, cobranding and other arrangements, as well as social media and any digital marketing platform, Franchisor retains the sole right to approve any linking or other use of the CITY PUBLICATIONS website. Franchisee may not establish a presence
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–129)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Publications' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee's dealings are not always solely with City Publications. While the franchise agreement is between City Publications and the franchisee, there are circumstances where third parties are involved.
For instance, City Publications franchisees may elect to establish cooperative advertising with other franchisees for a select area encompassing their mutual territories. In this case, franchisees would be dealing directly with each other to coordinate advertising efforts. Additionally, City Publications may use approved vendors to provide appointment services to the franchisee during training.
Furthermore, if a franchisee establishes a commercial business location, the lease must contain a provision entitling City Publications, or its nominee, to assume the lease upon the franchisee's default. City Publications also retains the right to make rental and other payments directly to the landlord or other party to whom such payment is ultimately due. These clauses indicate that the franchisee may have dealings with landlords or other parties, with City Publications potentially stepping in under certain conditions.