What activities are City Wide franchisees prohibited from engaging in?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
s of a beneficial interest, at any time during the term of this Non-Compete Agreement, of the securities of Franchisee, and of any corporation directly or indirectly controlling Franchisee, if Franchisee is a corporation; and the general partners and any limited partner owning any percentage of Franchisee if a partnership.
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- For the purposes of this agreement, the term "Franchised Business" (as defined in the Franchise Agreement) will be further modified to mean use of CITY WIDE's System and Marks at the following location ("Location"):
The franchise Territory consists solely of the following:
ATTACHMENT B TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT - DESIGNATED TERRITORY
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- Franchisee covenants that during the term of this Non-Compete Agreement, except as otherwise approved in writing by CITY WIDE, Franchisee will not, either directly or indirectly, for itself, or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any person, persons, partnership, or corporation:
- a. Divert or attempt to divert any business or customers of the Franchised Business to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, or do or perform, directly or indirectly, any act injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with CITY WIDE's Marks and the System; or
- b. Own, maintain, engage in, consult with, or have any material interest in any competitive business (including any business operated by Franchisee prior to entry into the Franchise Agreement) specializing, in whole or in part, in providing the same or similar services or products or activities of any type or nature, targeted at a retail market of a
type the same as or similar to the type of programs offered or provided or markets targeted in or by the System.
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- Franchisee specifically acknowledges that, pursuant to this Agreement, Franchisee will receive valuable training and confidential information, including, without limitation, CITY WIDE's past, present or prospective client list, pricing formulas, policies, bids, quotes, proposals, profitability, margin strategies, presentation strategies and techniques, business plans, training materials, and additional information regarding the promotional, operational, sales and marketing methods and techniques of CITY WIDE and the System. Accordingly, Franchisee covenants that, except as otherwise approved in writing by CITY WIDE, Franchisee will not, for a period of two (2) years after the expiration or termination of this Agreement, regardless of the cause of termination, either directly or indirectly, for himself, or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any person, persons, partnership, or corporation, own, maintain, engage in, consult with or have any interest in any business specializing, in whole or in part, in providing the same or similar services or products or activities of any type or nature, targeted at a market of a type the same as or similar to the type of programs offered or provided or markets targeted in or by the System:
- a. Within a radius of 150 miles of Franchisee's Franchised Business Location.
- b. Within the metropolitan statistical area where Franchisee's Franchised Business is located; or
- c. Within a radius of 150 miles of the Location of any other business using the System, whether franchised or owned by CITY WIDE.
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- Each of the foregoing covenants will be construed as independent of any other covenant or provision of this Agreement. If all or any portion of a covenant in this Non-Compete Agreement is held unreasonable or unenforceable by a court or agency having valid jurisdiction in an unappealed final decision to which CITY WIDE is a party, Franchisee will be bound by any lesser covenant subsumed within the terms of such covenant that imposes the maximum duty permitted by law, as if the resulting covenant were separately stated in and made a part of this Non-Compete Agreement.
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- Franchisee understands and acknowledges that CITY WIDE will have the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to reduce the scope of any covenant set forth in Paragraphs 3 and 4 in this Non-Compete Agreement, or any portion thereof, without Franchisee's consent, effective immediately upon receipt by Franchisee of written notice thereof, and Franchisee will comply forthwith with any covenant as so modified, which will be fully enforceable notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Franchise Agreement, if any.
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- CITY WIDE will have the right to require Franchisee to enter into similar covenants with all of Franchisee's personnel performing managerial or supervisory functions and all personnel receiving training relating to the CITY WIDE System, in a form satisfactory to CITY WIDE.
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Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees face several restrictions during the term of their agreement and for a period after termination. During the franchise term, unless City Wide provides written approval, franchisees cannot divert business or customers to competitors, nor can they engage in any activity that could harm the goodwill associated with City Wide's marks and system. Furthermore, franchisees are restricted from owning, maintaining, or having a material interest in any competitive business that offers similar services or products targeted at the same retail market as the City Wide system.
Post-termination, for a period of two years, franchisees are similarly restricted from engaging in competitive businesses. This includes owning, maintaining, consulting with, or having any interest in a business that provides similar services or products aimed at the same market as City Wide. This non-compete clause is in place regardless of the reason for the franchise agreement's termination. These restrictions are designed to protect City Wide's confidential information, client lists, pricing strategies, and operational methods that franchisees gain access to during their tenure.
In addition to non-compete restrictions, City Wide franchisees are prohibited from duplicating the City Wide system and software, or disclosing any part of the City Wide system or operating manual. They cannot make material alterations to the franchise premises or its equipment without prior written approval from City Wide. Franchisees must also maintain cleanliness and safety standards, and promote and sell only the merchandise, products, and service lines prescribed by City Wide. While City Wide may offer pricing guidance, franchisees have the right to set their own prices, provided they are consistent with the City Wide concept. Franchisees are also barred from engaging in any activity that is contrary to the best interest of City Wide or that could result in litigation or public criticism of the brand.