Regarding the post-term noncompetition covenant for Deer Solution, what geographical limitation applies according to Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1(9)?

According to Deer Solution's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 17(r) is amended to comply with Indiana Code 23-2-2.7-1(9). This amendment stipulates that the post-term noncompetition covenant will be geographically limited to the territory granted to the franchisee.

For a prospective Deer Solution franchisee in Indiana, this means that after the franchise agreement ends, the non-compete agreement will only prevent them from operating a competing business within the specific territory they were originally granted. This provides some assurance that they will not be restricted from working in the broader market area or state after the agreement terminates.

This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as many states have laws regulating the enforceability of non-compete agreements. By explicitly limiting the geographic scope to the franchisee's territory, Deer Solution aims to ensure that the non-compete is enforceable under Indiana law. Franchisees should carefully review Schedule 1 of their Franchise Agreement to understand the exact boundaries of their Operating Territory, as this will define the area where the post-term non-compete applies.