What does Engel & Volkers require franchisees to do regarding informing their personnel about proprietary materials?

According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific obligations regarding the confidentiality and use of proprietary information by their personnel. Engel & Volkers requires franchisees to inform their residential manager, officer manager, and other personnel that the materials are proprietary and to supervise their use. This extends to all elements of the Engel & Volkers System, business systems, referral systems, marketing plans, information technology, trade secrets, and know-how. Franchisees must exert reasonably prudent efforts to maintain the confidentiality of this proprietary information.

Engel & Volkers also mandates that franchisees treat System Documentation as strictly confidential, preventing unauthorized individuals from accessing or reading it. Access to Confidential Information by employees and sales advisors must be restricted to the minimum necessary (need-to-know basis) and used only for fulfilling the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are obligated to impose secrecy undertakings on their employees and independent sales advisors, ensuring these confidentiality obligations continue even after the termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement.

These measures are typical in franchising to protect the brand's intellectual property and maintain consistency across all franchise locations. By requiring franchisees to inform and supervise their personnel, Engel & Volkers aims to prevent unauthorized disclosure or misuse of its proprietary information, which is crucial for maintaining its competitive advantage and brand reputation. Prospective franchisees should understand that these obligations are ongoing and essential to their operation of an Engel & Volkers franchise.