Is a Crave franchisee allowed to use toll-free numbers to solicit customers located anywhere?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may sell our menu items to customers who live anywhere but who choose to dine at or from your Restaurant or Food Truck. You may not engage in any promotional activities or sell products or services, whether directly or indirectly, through or on the internet, the world wide web, or any other similar proprietary or common carrier electronic delivery system; through catalogs or other mail order devices sent or directed to customers or prospective customers located anywhere; or by telecopy or other telephonic or electronic communications, including toll-free numbers, directed to or received from customers or prospective customers located anywhere. While you may place advertisements in printed media and on television and radio that are targeted to customers and prospective customers located within your Designated Territory, you will not be deemed to be in violation of the Franchise Agreement if those advertisements, because of the natural circulation of the printed media or reach of television and radio, are viewed by prospective customers outside of your Designated Territory. You may not directly solicit customers outside of your Designated Territory. You have no options, rights of first refusal, or similar rights to acquire additional franchises. You may not sell any products to any business or other customer at wholesale.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 42–46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are restricted in their promotional activities, particularly concerning customers outside their designated territory. Specifically, Crave franchisees are prohibited from engaging in promotional activities or selling products or services through various channels, including the internet, mail order, and certain electronic communications. This restriction extends to the use of toll-free numbers.
The FDD states that franchisees cannot use toll-free numbers to solicit or receive communications from customers or prospective customers located anywhere. This means a Crave franchisee cannot proactively market to or take orders from individuals outside their designated territory using a toll-free number. However, franchisees can still sell to customers who choose to dine at or order from their restaurant or food truck, regardless of where those customers live.
While franchisees can place advertisements in printed media, television, and radio, these advertisements should primarily target customers within their designated territory. If these advertisements reach prospective customers outside the designated territory due to the natural circulation or reach of the media, the franchisee will not be in violation of the Franchise Agreement. The key restriction is on directly soliciting customers outside of the designated territory, including through the use of toll-free numbers.