Does the Floyds 99 non-compete agreement apply to Barbershop managers of the developer?
Floyds_99 Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Developer acknowledges that, in addition to the training provided pursuant to this Agreement and the Franchise Agreements and the license of the Marks under the Franchise Agreements, Franchisor has also licensed commercially valuable information which comprises and is a part of the Licensed Methods, including without limitation, operations, proprietary products, proprietary product formulas, vendor lists, marketing, advertising and related information and materials and that the value of this information derives not only from the time, effort and money which went into its compilation, but from the usage of the same by all Developers and franchisees of Franchisor using the Marks and Licensed Methods. Therefore, other than the FLOYD'S 99 Shop(s) authorized by separate agreement(s) with Franchisor, neither Developer nor any of Developer's officers, directors, shareholders, Principal Managers, Barbershop managers, equity owners, members, managers or partners, nor any member of his or their immediate families, shall during the term of this Agreement:
- (a) have any direct or indirect controlling interest as a disclosed or beneficial owner in a "Competitive Business" as defined below;
- (b) perform services as a director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative, agent or otherwise for a Competitive Business; or
- (c) divert or attempt to divert any business related to, or any client or account of any FLOYD'S 99 Shop, Franchisor's business or any other FLOYD'S 99 Developer's business, by direct inducement or otherwise, or divert or attempt to divert the employment of any employee of Franchisor, another developer or another franchisee licensed by Franchisor to use the Marks and Licensed Methods, to any Competitive Business by any direct inducement or otherwise.
The term "Competitive Business" as used in this Agreement shall mean any business operating or granting franchises or licenses to others to operate, either (i) a retail hair care business deriving more than 5% of its gross sales from the sale of haircuts or hair care products; or (ii) a wholesale business deriving more than 5% of its gross sales from the sale of hair care products. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Developer shall not be prohibited from owning securities in a Competitive Business if such securities are listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter market and represent 5% or less of that class of securities issued and outstanding.
11.2 Post-Termination Covenant Not to Compete. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason, Developer and its officers, directors, shareholders, Principal Managers, members, managers and/or partners agree that, for a period of two years commencing on the effective date of termination or expiration, or the date on which Developer ceases to conduct business, whichever is later, neither Developer nor its officers, directors, shareholders, Principal Managers, members, managers and/or partners shall have any direct or indirect interest (through a member of any immediate family of Developer or its owners or otherwise) as a disclosed or beneficial owner, investor, partner, director, officer, manager, employee, consultant, representative or agent or in any other capacity in any Competitive Business, defined in Section 11.1 above, located or operating within a 25 mile radius of the Franchised Location described in Developer's Franchise Agreements, within 25 miles of the Franchised Location of any other franchised FLOYD'S 99 Shop or, within 25 miles of the premises of any FLOYD'S 99 Shop owned by Franchisor or any affiliate of Franchisor. The restrictions of this Section shall not be applicable to the ownership of shares of a class of securities listed on a stock exchange or traded on the over-the-counter market that represent 5% or less of the number of shares of that class of securities issued and outstanding. Developer and its officers, directors, shareholders, Principal Managers, members, managers and/or partners acknowledge that they possess skills and abilities of a general nature and have other opportunities for exploiting such skills.
Consequently, enforcement of the covenants made in this Section will not deprive them of their personal goodwill or ability to earn a living.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 58–229)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Floyds 99's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the non-compete agreement applies to Barbershop managers of the developer during the term of the Development Agreement. Specifically, neither the developer nor any of their Barbershop managers can have a direct or indirect controlling interest in a Competitive Business, perform services for a Competitive Business, or divert business or employees from any Floyds 99 Shop.
A "Competitive Business" is defined as any business operating or franchising a retail hair care business deriving more than 5% of its gross sales from haircuts or hair care products, or a wholesale business deriving more than 5% of its gross sales from hair care product sales. However, the developer is not prohibited from owning securities in a Competitive Business if those securities are listed on a stock exchange or traded over-the-counter and represent 5% or less of the outstanding securities.
Upon termination or expiration of the Development Agreement, the non-compete extends for two years. During this period, the developer and their managers are prohibited from having any interest in a Competitive Business within a 25-mile radius of any franchised Floyds 99 Shop or any Floyds 99 Shop owned by the franchisor or its affiliates. This restriction also does not apply to ownership of publicly traded securities representing 5% or less of the outstanding shares.
Floyds 99 emphasizes that the developer and their managers possess general skills and abilities and have other opportunities to earn a living, so enforcing these non-compete covenants will not deprive them of their personal goodwill or ability to earn a living.