Is using the Epcon Communities website for service bureau purposes allowed?

According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from using the Epcon Communities website or its databases for service bureau purposes. The FDD states that the web site refers to all information, content, and technology within Epcon Communities' World Wide Web Site located at www.epconconnect.com and/or at epcon.smarteru.com. The databases include all information accessible from Epcon Communities through the web site.

This restriction means that franchisees cannot offer services to third parties that involve using Epcon Communities' online resources or data. This limitation is in place to protect the integrity and proprietary nature of Epcon Communities' information and systems. It ensures that franchisees focus on operating their own Epcon Communities franchise and do not compete with Epcon Communities or other franchisees by offering services based on the franchisor's resources.

For a prospective franchisee, this means they must rely on their own resources and efforts to build their business, rather than leveraging the Epcon Communities intranet for external service offerings. Violation of this policy could lead to penalties or termination of the franchise agreement, as Epcon Communities retains the right to take action against improper uses of its intranet. Therefore, it is crucial for franchisees to adhere strictly to the permitted uses of the Epcon Communities Intranet as outlined in the franchise agreement and related policies.