Is a Fitstop franchisee allowed to establish or operate a website, web page, or domain name?
Fitstop Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
th the Franchised Business. You may not establish or operate a website, web page, domain name, Internet address, blog, forum or email
address that in any way concerns, discusses or alludes to us, the System or your Franchised Business without our written consent. The Proprietary Marks may not be used as part of, in conjunction with, to establish, or to operate any domain names, Internet addresses, blogs, forums or Networking Media Sites, unless specifically approved by us. You may not post, and must take such steps as necessary to ensure that your employees do not post, any information to a Networking Media Site relating to us, the System, the Proprietary Marks, or the Franchised Business that (a) does not comply with our social networking guidelines described in the Operating Manuals, (b) is derogatory, disparaging, or critical of us, the System, or the Proprietary Marks, (c) is offensive, inflammatory or indecent, or (d) harms the goodwill and/or public image of the System and/or the Proprietary Marks. You may not establish or permit or aid anyone else to establish any links to any website or any other electronic or computer-generated advertising or communication arrangement which we may create. Subject to the terms of the Franchise Agreement and Operations Manual, we may make available to you a sub-page on the Website that will be located at a subdomain of the Website to be specified by us (the "Subpage"). You will be permitted to upload content onto the Subpage solely to promote and provide customers with information related to your Franchised Business. You may only upload content onto the Subpage in accordance with terms of the Franchise Agreement and any guidelines, directives or specifications (collectively, "Subpage Standards") issued by us. The Subpage may not contain content which references any other Franchised Businesses other than your Franchised Business. You may not upload, publish, display, or otherwise include or use any content on the Subpage without receiving our approval.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 24–35)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fitstop's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally prohibited from establishing or operating any website, web page, domain name, Internet address, blog, forum, or email address that concerns Fitstop, the Fitstop system, or their franchised business without written consent from Fitstop. This restriction ensures that all online representations of the brand are controlled and approved by the franchisor.
Fitstop may provide a sub-page on their website for franchisees to promote their specific franchised business. Franchisees are allowed to upload content to this sub-page, but only to promote their business and provide information to customers. All content uploaded to the sub-page must adhere to Fitstop's guidelines and standards, and franchisees must receive approval from Fitstop before publishing any content or changes. The subpage cannot reference other Fitstop locations.
Fitstop retains the right to discontinue the sub-page at any time. Fitstop is responsible for developing all online ordering systems and may design the website to route delivery orders to franchisees. Fitstop also reserves the right to display the franchisee's contact information on the corporate website, provided the franchisee adheres to the terms of the Franchise Agreement. These measures ensure brand consistency and quality control across all online platforms associated with Fitstop.