Is a City Wide franchisee allowed to duplicate the City Wide System and Software?

According to the 2025 City Wide Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from duplicating the City Wide System and Software. Section 7.5 of the franchise agreement states that a franchisee cannot duplicate the City Wide System and Software, nor can they disclose any part of the City Wide System or Operating Manual. This restriction is in place to protect City Wide's proprietary information and maintain the uniformity of the franchise system.

Furthermore, the franchise agreement emphasizes that the Technology Systems and any data generated by the use of the Software are the valuable property and trade secrets of City Wide. Franchisees must use the utmost care to safeguard the Technology Systems and any data generated by the use of the Software and to maintain the confidentiality thereof. The software is provided as a single compiled product and may not be disassembled or used in any manner other than as integrated into the Technology System.

These stipulations are typical in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their intellectual property and maintain consistent brand standards across all franchise locations. By preventing duplication and unauthorized disclosure, City Wide aims to preserve the integrity of its system and the value of its brand. A prospective franchisee should understand that adherence to these restrictions is a mandatory part of the franchise agreement.