Is a City Wide franchisee obligated to retain City Wide for IT Services, and if so, for how long?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
CITY WIDE will also provide you with desktop monitoring, troubleshooting assistance, software updates and other technology-related assistance ("IT Services") to support the efficiency of your Technology Systems. You are obligated to retain CITY WIDE for these IT Services for the first thirty-six (36) months of operations, as further set forth in the IT Services Agreement on Attachment M to the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 29–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to retain City Wide for IT Services for a specified period. Specifically, franchisees must use City Wide for IT Services for the first 36 months of their operations. This requirement is further detailed in the IT Services Agreement, which is included as Attachment M to the Franchise Agreement.
This obligation ensures that new franchisees receive consistent and reliable IT support during the initial phase of their business. By mandating the use of City Wide's IT Services, the franchisor aims to maintain the efficiency and standardization of technology systems across all franchise locations. This can be particularly beneficial for franchisees who may not have extensive IT expertise or resources.
After the initial 36-month period, franchisees may have the option to explore alternative IT service providers. However, during this initial term, compliance with the requirement is essential, as it is part of the broader agreement outlined in the Franchise Agreement and the attached IT Services Agreement. Franchisees should carefully review Attachment M to fully understand the scope of services provided and the terms of the IT Services Agreement.