factual

Who determines the geographic boundaries of a Cordova advertising cooperative?

Cordova Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

  1. Advertising Cooperative – We possess the right to authorize, establish, designate and de-authorize a local or regional advertising cooperative within markets that we designate. We will exclusively determine the geographic and other boundaries constituting each cooperative and factors that we will consider include media markets and distribution channels including print, broadcast, and digital. If we establish a cooperative within a market that includes your Cordova Business, you must contribute to the cooperative in such amounts and frequency as determined by the cooperative. Members of the cooperative will be responsible for administering the cooperative, including determining the amount of contributions, marketing expenditures and allocations. We may require that cooperative decisions be made based on approval of a simple majority of franchisee members based on one vote per Cordova Business and with a quorum constituting not less than 25% of the designated franchisee cooperative members. If a cooperative exceeds nine franchisee members, we may require that the cooperative establish formal governing documents. Each cooperative must prepare annual unaudited financial statements that must be provided to each cooperative member for review. We reserve the right to form, change, dissolve, or merge any advertising

cooperative. If we elect to form a local or regional cooperative or if a cooperative already exists as to the area of your Cordova Business, you will be required to participate in the cooperative in accordance with the provisions of our operations manual which we may supplement and modify from time to time. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.C.). You will not be required to make contributions to a local or regional advertising cooperative in amounts exceeding the local marketing requirements.

Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 23–28)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Cordova's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cordova has the authority to establish advertising cooperatives within designated markets. Cordova exclusively determines the geographic and other boundaries of each cooperative, considering factors such as media markets and distribution channels, including print, broadcast, and digital media.

If Cordova establishes a cooperative that includes a franchisee's Cordova Business, the franchisee is obligated to contribute to the cooperative in amounts and at frequencies determined by the cooperative members. These members are responsible for administering the cooperative, including deciding on contribution amounts, marketing expenditures, and allocations. Cordova may require that cooperative decisions be based on a simple majority vote of franchisee members, with one vote per Cordova Business, and a quorum of at least 25% of the designated franchisee cooperative members.

If a cooperative has more than nine franchisee members, Cordova may require the establishment of formal governing documents. Each cooperative must prepare annual unaudited financial statements for review by its members. Cordova retains the right to form, change, dissolve, or merge any advertising cooperative. Franchisees are required to participate in any local or regional cooperative that exists in their area, according to the provisions in Cordova's operations manual, which may be updated periodically. However, franchisees will not be required to contribute more to a local or regional advertising cooperative than the local marketing requirements.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.