After the Degree Wellness agreement terminates, for how long is the Licensed Provider prohibited from soliciting patients of the Studio?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (c) Non-Solicitation. Licensed Provider agrees that during the Agreement Term, and thereafter for a period of two (2) years following any termination or expiration of this Agreement, Licensed Provider will not, directly or indirectly, (a) solicit for health care or related services and products with any person who was a patient of the Studio within the two year period prior to such
termination or expiration; or (b) interfere with Management Company's or Degree Wellness's relationship with any of its franchisees, vendors, suppliers or referral sources.
Source: Item 20 — OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION (FDD pages 63–66)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Degree Wellness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Licensed Provider is restricted from soliciting patients of the Studio for a period of two years following the termination or expiration of the agreement. This restriction applies to soliciting for health care or related services and products with any person who was a patient of the Studio within the two-year period before the termination or expiration date.
This non-solicitation clause prevents a former franchisee from actively trying to win back customers immediately after leaving the Degree Wellness system. This protects Degree Wellness's customer base and the goodwill associated with the brand. It ensures that the franchisee cannot leverage their knowledge of the Studio's patients, gained during their time as a franchisee, to unfairly compete with Degree Wellness.
Such non-solicitation agreements are common in franchising to protect the franchisor's business interests and customer relationships. The two-year restriction seems fairly standard, as these clauses typically range from one to three years. Prospective franchisees should understand this restriction and factor it into their plans if they decide to leave the Degree Wellness system, as it will limit their ability to directly target former patients for a defined period.