Is a Crave franchisee allowed to maintain their own website for the Franchised Business?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may not maintain your own website; otherwise maintain a presence or advertise on the internet or any other mode of electronic commerce in connection with your Franchised Business; establish a link to any website we establish at or from any other website or page; or at any time establish any other website, electronic commerce presence or URL which
in whole or in part incorporates the "Crave" name or any names confusingly similar to the Proprietary Marks.
You are not permitted to promote your Franchised Business or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner or maintain any business profile on Facebook, Twitter, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or any other social media and/or networking site without our prior written approval. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Franchised Business' operation, including prohibitions on your and the Franchised Business' employees posting or blogging comments about the Franchised Business or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us ("social media" includes personal blogs, common social networks, professional networks, live-blogging tools, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools). We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 63–253)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally prohibited from maintaining their own websites for their franchised business. Crave retains control over all internet and electronic commerce activities related to the Crave system. Crave may provide franchisees with a "click through" subpage on Crave's website to promote the franchisee's specific location. Franchisees are required to provide updated content for their subpage. Crave reserves the right to control the content and updating procedures for these subpages.
Crave also maintains the right to use any websites or electronic commerce platforms they establish to offer Crave franchises for sale and exploit electronic commerce rights. Franchisees are restricted from creating any website or online presence that incorporates the "Crave" name or similar trademarks.
Furthermore, franchisees need written approval from Crave to promote their franchised business or use any proprietary marks on social media platforms like Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Crave maintains control over all social media initiatives and requires franchisees to adhere to system standards for social media use. Franchisees must regularly update branded social media pages provided by Crave, and Crave reserves the right to conduct national campaigns via local social media on the franchisee's behalf.