What must an Engel & Volkers franchisee immediately cease using upon termination or expiration of the agreement?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
21.1.2 immediately cease using the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System, including the Trademarks, and Confidential Information;
21.1.3 immediately remove the name ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, ENGEL & VOELKERS, E&V® or EV from its business name, if one of those names appears in its business name, and take all necessary action to cancel any assumed name or equivalent registration and any registered user agreement which pertains to the franchised Business and contains or pertains to the name "ENGEL & VÖLKERS" or any other Trademark of Franchisor, or any variant, within fifteen (15) days following termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Franchisee must furnish Franchisor with evidence satisfactory to Franchisor of compliance with this obligation within thirty (30) days after termination or expiration of this Agreement.
If Franchisee fails to do so within thirty (30) days following the date of termination or expiration, Franchisor may, in Franchisee's name, on Franchisee's behalf and at Franchisee's expense, sign all documents necessary to cause discontinuance of Franchisee's use of the name "ENGEL & VÖLKERS" or any other Trademark or any variant with respect to the franchised Business.
Franchisee irrevocably appoints Franchisor as Franchisee's attorney-in-fact to do so;
21.1.4 immediately cease using any documents referring to the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System, e.g., advertising texts, advertising materials, printed matter and letterheads;
21.1.5 immediately remove all the typical visual features used by the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System for ENGEL & VÖLKERS offices and Residential Real Estate Brokerages;
21.1.6 immediately transfer all telephone and fax numbers belonging to the franchised Business and all e-mail accounts, Internet domain names, and social media accounts pertaining to the franchised Business (including, for example, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) including the words "engelvoelkers" and/or "volkers" and/or "voelkers" and/or "engel", "ev", "evrealestate", and/or any confusingly similar e-mail accounts, Internet domain names, and social media accounts, to Franchisor or to a third party nominated by Franchisor;
21.1.7 immediately remove or arrange to have removed all descriptions or other entries referring to the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System or the ENGEL & VÖLKERS office or its Residential Real Estate Brokerage from telephone and online directories and other directories and registers;
21.1.8 immediately cease to use any and all products or supplies displaying the Trademarks;
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 88)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, a franchisee must immediately cease using the Engel & Volkers System, including the trademarks and confidential information. This encompasses a broad range of elements associated with the brand.
Specifically, the franchisee must discontinue using the Engel & Volkers name (or variations like ENGEL & VOELKERS, E&V, or EV) in their business name and cancel any registrations related to the name. They must also stop using any documents referring to the Engel & Volkers system, such as advertising texts, materials, printed matter, and letterheads. Furthermore, all visual features typical of Engel & Volkers offices and residential real estate brokerages must be removed.
In addition to the Engel & Volkers System, the franchisee is obligated to transfer all telephone and fax numbers, email accounts, internet domain names, and social media accounts related to the franchised business to Engel & Volkers or a designated third party. This includes accounts containing variations of "engelvoelkers", "volkers", "voelkers", "engel", "ev", or "evrealestate". The franchisee must also remove any references to the Engel & Volkers system or office from telephone and online directories. Finally, the franchisee must stop using any products or supplies displaying the trademarks.
These requirements ensure a clean break between the franchisee and the Engel & Volkers brand, protecting the integrity and uniformity of the brand across all franchise locations. Failure to comply with these post-termination obligations could result in legal action and further expenses for the former franchisee.