Does Degree Wellness reserve the right to require franchisees to use a website controlled by them?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- b.
We reserve the right to require you to use a Website controlled by us and to require you to use search engine optimization services.
Further, we may establish a Website or a series of Websites for our System and Studios (collectively, the "System Website").
If we include information about the Franchised Business on the System Website, you agree to give us the information and materials that we may periodically request concerning the Franchised Business, and to otherwise participate in the System Website in the manner that we may periodically require.
By posting or submitting to us information or materials for the System Website, you are representing to us that the information and materials are accurate, not misleading, and do not infringe on any third party's rights.
We shall own all intellectual property and other rights in the System Website and all information it contains.
We may implement and periodically modify standards relating to the System Website and, at our option, may discontinue the System Website at any time.
If we establish a System Website, all advertising, marketing, and promotional materials that you develop for your Franchised Business must contain the URL of the System Website in the manner that we periodically may designate.
- c.
We have contracted with third-parties to provide Website design, maintenance, hosting, and search engine optimization for our franchises and for the System Website, and certain technologyrelated annual conference expenses.
You are required to use all of these services and are required to pay us a monthly fee, in an amount to be determined by us from time to time, for these services (the "Technology Fee").
We will pay the third-party providers directly.
The amount you pay us may be less or more than the amount we pay to the third-party providers and may be used to offset internal costs related to the stated purposes of the Technology Fee.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 66–257)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Degree Wellness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Degree Wellness does reserve the right to require franchisees to use a website controlled by them. The FDD states that Degree Wellness reserves the right to require franchisees to use a website controlled by them and to use search engine optimization services. Degree Wellness may also establish a System Website for all franchises, and if information about the franchise is included on the System Website, the franchisee must provide the information and materials requested by Degree Wellness and participate in the System Website as required.
Furthermore, Degree Wellness has contracted with third parties to provide website design, maintenance, hosting, and search engine optimization for its franchises and the System Website. Franchisees are required to use these services and pay a monthly Technology Fee, the amount of which is determined by Degree Wellness. This fee is used to pay the third-party providers directly, and the amount the franchisee pays may be more or less than what Degree Wellness pays the providers, with the difference potentially used to offset internal costs.
If a franchisee proposes any material revision to their website or the information on it, they must submit the revision to Degree Wellness for prior written approval. Additionally, all advertising, marketing, and promotional materials developed by the franchisee must contain the URL of the System Website in the manner designated by Degree Wellness. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must assign to Degree Wellness any URLs, domain names, and social media and social networking names used in connection with the franchise.