What is the Engel & Volkers franchisee's obligation to ensure confidentiality among their shareholders, partners, members, officers, directors, managers, staff members, and Sales Advisors?

According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must ensure that their shareholders, partners, members, officers, directors, managers, staff members, and Sales Advisors uphold confidentiality. This is achieved by requiring these individuals to execute Engel & Volkers's standard Confidentiality Agreement and Covenant Not to Compete. This agreement legally binds them to protect the brand's sensitive information.

The confidentiality undertaking extends to all business and operational information received by the franchisee, either directly or indirectly, from Engel & Volkers. This includes information contained in the Integrated Product Suite, know-how conveyed in the System Documentation, and any other data designated as confidential. The franchisee must restrict access to this confidential information to only those staff members and Sales Advisors who have a "need-to-know" for performing their duties under the Franchise Agreement.

This requirement is crucial for maintaining the integrity and competitive advantage of the Engel & Volkers system. By ensuring that all related parties are bound by confidentiality agreements, Engel & Volkers aims to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of its proprietary information. This protects the brand's trade secrets, operational methods, and other confidential data that contribute to its success. Franchisees should be aware of this obligation and take the necessary steps to implement and enforce these confidentiality measures within their organization.