Can a Closet Storage Concepts franchisee operate other businesses using their entity name?
Closet_Storage_Concepts Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All stationery, business cards and contractual agreements into which Franchisee enters shall contain Franchisee's corporate or fictitious name and a conspicuously displayed notice that Franchisee operates the Franchised Business as an independently owned and operated franchise of Franchisor.
- 5.8.5 Authorized and Unauthorized Use. At Franchisor's direction, Franchisee shall use the Proprietary Marks in conjunction with the symbol "SM," "TM" or "®", as applicable, in order to indicate the registered or unregistered status of the Proprietary Marks.
Franchisee shall not use any of the Proprietary Marks in connection with the offer or sale of any unauthorized products or services or in any other manner not explicitly authorized in writing by Franchisor.
Franchisee may not use any other marks, names, commercial symbols or logo type in connection with the operation of the Franchised Business.
5.8.6 Franchisor's Use of Marks. Franchisor, its affiliates and Licensor may use and register the Proprietary Marks as they deem advisable in their discretion including without limitation, developing and establishing other systems using the same or similar Proprietary Marks alone or in conjunction with other marks and granting licenses and/or franchises in connection with the same or similar Proprietary Marks without providing any rights to Franchisee.
5.8.7 Electronic Mail and Domain Names.
Except as authorized by Franchisor in writing, Franchisee shall not use the Proprietary Marks, or any abbreviation, variation or other name associated with the Closet & Storage Concepts System as part of any e-mail address, domain name, and/or other identification in any electronic medium.
If Franchisor provides Franchisee with an e-mail address, Franchisee must use the supplied e-mail address in all business communications with customers, vendors or suppliers.
Franchisor owns all CSC e-mail addresses and has full access to all communications sent and received using those addresses.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISED BUSINESS (FDD pages 43–44)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Closet Storage Concepts FDD, franchisees must include their corporate or fictitious name on all business-related documents. These documents must also have a conspicuously displayed notice indicating that the franchisee independently owns and operates the Closet Storage Concepts franchise. This requirement ensures transparency and distinguishes the franchisee's business from the franchisor's corporate entity.
Closet Storage Concepts franchisees are restricted in how they use the Closet Storage Concepts Proprietary Marks. Franchisees cannot use these marks in connection with unauthorized products or services or in any way not explicitly approved by Closet Storage Concepts in writing. Additionally, franchisees are prohibited from using any other marks, names, commercial symbols, or logos in connection with the operation of their Closet Storage Concepts franchise.
Closet Storage Concepts retains the right to use and register its Proprietary Marks as it sees fit, including developing other systems using similar marks and granting licenses or franchises to others without providing any rights to the franchisee. This includes the use of Proprietary Marks in email addresses and domain names, which franchisees cannot use without written authorization from Closet Storage Concepts. If Closet Storage Concepts provides an email address, the franchisee must use it for all business communications, and Closet Storage Concepts retains full access to these communications.