Does this table outline any obligations for Deer Solution franchisees?
Deer_Solution Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
Franchisee must conspicuously identify itself at the premises of the Franchised Business and in all dealings with customers, lessors, contractors, suppliers, public officials, and others as the owner of a Deer Solution Business under a franchise from Franchisor, and Franchisee must place other notices of independent ownership on signs, forms, stationery, advertising, and other materials as Franchisor requires.
Franchisee must not employ any Licensed Mark in signing any contract, lease, mortgage, check, purchase agreement, negotiable instrument, or other legal obligation. Franchisee must not employ any Licensed Mark in a manner that is likely to result in liability of Franchisor for any indebtedness, action, inaction, or obligation of Franchisee.
Franchisor and Franchisee shall not make any express or implied agreements, guaranties, or representations, or incur any debt, in the name, or on behalf, of the other. Franchisor and Franchisee shall not represent that their relationship is anything other than franchisor and franchisee. Franchisor and Franchisee shall not be obligated by, or have any liability under, any agreements or representations made by the other that are not expressly authorized. Franchisor shall not be obligated for any damages to any person or property directly or indirectly arising out of the operation of the Franchised Business, whether or not caused by Franchisee's negligent, willful act or failure to act.
Franchisor shall have no liability for any sales, use, excise, gross receipts, property, or other taxes, whether levied upon Franchisee, the Franchised Business or its assets, or upon Franchisor in connection with sales made, services performed or business conducted by Franchisee.
10.B. INDEMNIFICATION BY FRANCHISEE
Franchisee and each Owner shall indemnify, defend through counsel acceptable to Franchisor, and hold Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, members, owners, partners, agents, representatives, independent contractors, employees, assigns and successors (the "Franchisor Indemnified Parties") harmless from all losses, expenses, claims, causes of action, lawsuits,
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
- (1) During the Term of this Agreement and subject to the rights of Franchisor including, but not limited to, the Reserved Rights, Franchisor grants to Franchisee and Franchisee accepts, the nonexclusive license, right and obligation to develop and operate a Deer Solution Business within the operating territory designated and set forth in Schedule 1 of this Agreement (the "Operating Territory"). If Schedule 1 does not specifically identify and designate an Operating Territory, and/or if Schedule 1 is not signed by Franchisor, the Operating Territory shall be determined by Franchisor in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment;
- (2) The Operating Territory shall be comprised of a Territory and if, at the time of signing this Agreement, Franchisor and Franchisee agree to supplement the size of Franchisee's Operating Territory by adding an Additional Territory or Additional Territories, the Additional Territory or Additional Territories shall be included within the Operating Territory identified in Schedule 1 and shall be quantified in Schedule 2 for purposes of calculating the Initial Franchise Fee and other obligations under this Agreement;
- (3) Franchisee's Administrative Office must be located within the Operating Territory and be approved by Franchisor;
- (4) Franchisee may only operate the Franchised Business within Franchisee's Operating Territory and, without limitation to the foregoing, Franchisee may only offer and sell the Approved Services and Products within Franchisee's Operating Territory from Franchisor designated and authorized Service Vehicles, the System standards designated by Franchisor, and in accordance with the requirements designated by Franchisor in the Operations Manual;
- (5) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement including, but not limited to, the Reserved Rights and Closed Markets, provided that, at all times, Franchisee is and remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisor will not and Franchisor's affiliates will not operate, or grant a franchisee the right to operate a Deer Solution Business using the Licensed Marks and System within Franchisee's Operating Territory, provided that an Operating Territory has been designated and approved by Franchisor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and
(6) The foregoing rights granted in this Article 2.A. are subject to and contingent upon each and every, term and condition of this Agreement, the rights of any prior user, and are non-exclusive and subordinate to the Reserved Rights.
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
5.G. APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS
Franchisor has sole discretion to apply any payments received from Franchisee or to offset any indebtedness of Franchisee to Franchisor to any past due indebtedness of Franchisee for Royalty Fees, Advertising Contributions, purchases from Franchisor or its affiliates, interest, or any other indebtedness of Franchisee to Franchisor or its affiliates.
5.H. WITHHOLDING PAYMENTS UNLAWFUL
Franchisee agrees that under no circumstance is Franchisee entitled to withhold payments due to Franchisor under this Agreement. Among other things and without limitation to the foregoing, Franchisee expressly agrees that any claim by Franchisee as to the alleged non-performance of Franchisor's obligations shall not permit and/or entitle Franchisee to withhold payments due Franchisor under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 6 RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OBLIGATIONS
6.A. NECESSITY FOR RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
Franchisee agrees that only through the course of entering into this Agreement is Franchisee being provided with access to the System, Franchisor's training, use of the Licensed Marks and, access to the Operations Manual and Confidential Information. Franchisee agrees that competition by Franchisee, Owners, Spouses and/or Immediate Family Members could jeopardize the entire System and cause irreparable harm to Franchisor and franchisees of Deer Solution Businesses. Accordingly, Franchisee and Franchisee's Owners and, Spouses, agree to comply with the restrictive covenants set forth in this Article 6 and throughout this Agreement.
6.B. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: KNOW-HOW
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
The appointed Managing Owner must attend and successfully complete the Training Program within 60 days of the appointment.
If Franchisee's Deer Solution Business is not being managed by a Franchisor approved Managing Owner (as applicable) within 30 days after such death or permanent disability, Franchisor is authorized, but is not required, to immediately appoint a manager to maintain the operations of Franchisee's Deer Solution Business for, and on behalf of, Franchisee at Franchisee's sole costs until an approved Managing Owner is able to assume the management and operation of Franchisee's Deer Solution Business.
Franchisor's appointment of a manager for Franchisee's Deer Solution Business does not relieve Franchisee of its obligations under this Agreement, including this Article 14.D., or constitute a waiver of Franchisor's right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article 16, below.
At all times, including while Franchisee's Deer Solution Business may be managed by Franchisor's appointed manager, Franchisor shall not be liable for any debts, losses, costs, or expenses incurred in the operations of Franchisee's Deer Solution Business or to any creditor of Franchisee for any products, materials, supplies, or services purchased by Franchisee's Deer Solution Business.
Franchisor has the right to charge a reasonable fee for such management services and may cease to provide management services at any time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Franchisee is a Corporate Entity and the
Managing Owner is the only Owner of Franchisee, then Article 14.D.(1) shall apply as if the Managing Owner were the sole individual Franchisee.
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
18.O. NO CLASS ACTION OR MULTI-PARTY ACTIONS
FRANCHISOR AND FRANCHISEE AGREE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS AND/OR LEGAL ACTIONS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT AND/OR THE OFFER AND SALE OF THE DEER SOLUTION BUSINESS FRANCHISE FROM FRANCHISOR TO FRANCHISEE, WILL BE CONDUCTED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT A CLASS-WIDE BASIS, AND, THAT ANY PROCEEDING BETWEEN FRANCHISEE, FRANCHISEE'S OWNERS, SPOUSES AND/OR GUARANTORS AND FRANCHISOR AND/OR FRANCHISOR'S AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND/OR EMPLOYEES MAY NOT BE CONSOLIDATED WITH ANY OTHER PROCEEDING BETWEEN FRANCHISOR AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY.
18.P. ACCEPTANCE BY FRANCHISOR
This Agreement will not be binding on Franchisor unless and until an authorized officer of Franchisor has signed it.
18.Q. OPPORTUNITY FOR REVIEW BY FRANCHISEE'S ADVISORS
Franchisor recommends that Franchisee have this Agreement and the Franchise Disclosure Document reviewed by Franchisee's lawyer, accountant, and other business advisors, prior to signing this Agreement.
18.R. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY BY FRANCHISOR'S EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, OR AGENTS
Franchisee agrees that the fulfillment of any of Franchisor's obligations written in this Agreement or based on any oral communications ruled to be binding in a court of law shall be Franchisor's sole obligation and none of Franchisor's employees, officers and/or authorized agents shall be personally liable to Franchisee for any reason. In addition to the foregoing, Franchisor and Franchisee are not joint employers. The foregoing shall not be construed to imply that Franchisor and/or Franchisor's agents have made any oral promises as pursuant to Article 18.M. of this Agreement, this written Agreement represents the sole Agreement between Franchisor and Franchisee.
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
6.D. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND IN-TERM NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall not engage in the following activities (the "Prohibited Activities"): (a) owning and/or having any legal or equitable interest whether, as an individual proprietor, owner, partner, member or shareholder of a Corporate Entity, or, in any similar capacity, in a Competitive Business other than, owning an interest of 3% or less in a publicly traded company that is a Competitive Business; (b) operating, managing, funding and/or performing services whether, as an employee, officer, director, manager, consultant, representative, agent, and/or creditor or, in any similar capacity, for or benefitting a Competitive Business; (c) diverting or attempting to divert any business or customers from Franchisor or, one of Franchisor's affiliates or franchisees; (d) inducing any customer or client of Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates, franchisees of the System, or, of Franchisee, to any other person or business that is not a Deer Solution Business; and/or (e) engaging in any actions, inactions, and/or activities in violation of Articles 6.B. and/or 6.C. of this Agreement (all, individually and, collectively, referred to as the "Prohibited Activities"). Franchisee agrees that if Franchisee were to engage in the Prohibited Activities that such actions would be unfair, would constitute unfair competition and, would cause harm to Franchisor, the System, and other Deer Solution Business franchisees. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and obligations shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.
6.E. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND POST-TERMINATION NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
Transfers which in the aggregate Transfers substantially all of the assets of the Franchised Business or a controlling interest in Franchisee, then, at the election of Franchisor and upon notice from Franchisor to Franchisee, the transferee may be required to execute (and/or, upon Franchisor's request, shall cause all interested parties to execute) for a term ending on the expiration date of the original Term of this Agreement, the then current standard form Franchise Agreement offered to new franchisees of Deer Solution Businesses and any other agreements as Franchisor requires. Such agreements shall supersede this Agreement and its associated agreement in all respects, and the terms of Franchisor's then current agreements may differ from the terms in this Agreement, provided that such agreements shall provide for the same Royalty Fee, Advertising Contributions, and all other financial or monetary obligations established in this Agreement;
(8) The transferee, at its expense, must improve, modify, refurbish, renovate, remodel, and/or otherwise upgrade Franchisee's Administrative Office to conform to the then current standards and specifications of Franchisor, and the transferee must complete such improvements, modifications, refurbishments, renovations, remodeling, and/or upgrading within the time period Franchisor reasonably specifies;
(9) Franchisee, each Owner, and each Spouse shall remain liable for all obligations to Franchisor set forth in this Agreement;
(10) At the transferee's expense, the transferee, and the transferee's Managing Owner, managers and/or any other applicable employees of transferee's Deer Solution Business must complete any training programs then in effect for franchisees of Deer Solution Businesses upon terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement or as Franchisor otherwise reasonably requires;
(11) Franchisee must pay the Transfer Fee to Franchisor;
(12) Franchisor's approval of the material terms and conditions of the Transfer, and Franchisor determines in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment that the price and terms of payment are not so burdensome as to be detrimental to the future operations of the Franchised Business by the transferee;
(13) Transferee's employees, directors, officers, independent contractors, and agents who will have access to Confidential Information shall execute the Confidentiality Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 2;
[Item 23: RECEIPTS]
14.D. DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FRANCHISEE OR AN OWNER
- (1) If Franchisee is an individual and not a Corporate Entity, upon the death or permanent disability of Franchisee, the executor, administrator, conservator, or other personal representative of Franchisee, must appoint a manager that meets the equivalent of an Operating Manager within a reasonable time, which shall not exceed 30 days from the date of death or permanent disa
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 55–246)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Deer Solution Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have several obligations outlined within the agreement. These obligations range from how the franchisee identifies their business to adherence to restrictive covenants and what happens in the event of a transfer, death, or disability.
Deer Solution franchisees must identify themselves as operating under a franchise from the franchisor in all business dealings. They are also obligated to avoid using licensed marks in ways that could create liability for the franchisor. Payments to Deer Solution must be made without withholding, even in cases of alleged non-performance by the franchisor. Franchisees also agree to restrictive covenants related to competition, both during the term of the agreement and after termination. These covenants aim to protect the Deer Solution system and confidential information.
In the event of a transfer of the franchise, the transferee may be required to execute the then-current standard franchise agreement. The franchisee, owners, and spouses remain liable for all obligations to Deer Solution. In the event of death or disability, a manager must be appointed within 30 days. If the franchisee fails to do so, Deer Solution is authorized to appoint a manager at the franchisee's expense. Franchisees also waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits against Deer Solution, ensuring that any legal actions are pursued on an individual basis.