What constitutes a 'Principal' in the context of defaults for a Fly Fitness franchise?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ourse against Franchisor for loss of revenue, customer goodwill, profits or other business arising from Franchisor's actions and the actions of suppliers.
18. POST-TERMINATION.
- 18.1. Franchisee's Obligations. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, all rights and licenses granted hereunder to Franchisee shall immediately terminate and Franchisee and each Principal, if any, shall:
- 18.1.1. immediately cease to operate the Franchised Business, and shall not thereafter, directly, or indirectly identify himself, herself or itself as a Fly Fitness owner, franchisee, or licensee;
- 18.1.2. immediately and permanently (i) cease to use the Marks, any imitation of any Mark, logos, copyrighted material, or other Intellectual Property, Confidential Information, other confidential or proprietary material or indicia of a Fly Fitness outlet, (ii) cease to use any trade name, trade or service mark or other commercial symbol that suggests a current or past association with Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates, or the System and (iii) de-identify the Franchised Business premises. In particular, Franchisee shall cease to use, without limitation, all signs, billboards, advertising materials, displays, stationery, forms, and any other articles, which display the Marks;
- 18.1.3. take such action as may be necessary to cancel any assumed name or equivalent registration that contains the Mark or any other service mark or trademark of Franchisor, and Franchisee shall furnish Franchisor with evidence of compliance with this obligation which is satisfactory to Franchisor, within five (5) days after termination or expiration of this Agreement;
- 18.1.4. promptly pay all sums owing to Franchisor and its affiliates. Such sums shall include all damages, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by Franchisor as a result of any default by Franchisee. The payment obligation herein shall give rise to and remain, until paid in full, a lien in favor of Franchisor against any and all of the personal property, furnishings, equipment, fixtures, and inventory owned by Franchisee and located at the Franchised Business location at the time of default;
- 18.1.5. pay to Franchisor all damages for any breach or early termination of this Agreement, plus, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by Franchisor in connection with obtaining any remedy available to Franchisor and, subsequent to the termination or expiration of this Agreement, in obtaining injunctive or other relief for the enforcement of any provisions of this Agreement that survive its termination;
- 18.1.6. immediately deliver at Franchisee's sole cost and expense, to Franchisor the Manual and all records, files, instructions, correspondence, invoices, agreements, all confidential, proprietary and copyrighted material and all other materials related to operation of the Franchised Business, including but not limited to customer lists and records, (all of which are acknowledged to be Franchisor's property), delete all electronic copies and retain no copy or record of any of the foregoing, except Franchisee's copy of this Agreement and of any correspondence between the parties and any other documents that Franchisee reasonably needs for compliance with any provision of law;
- 18.1.7. comply with the non-disclosure and non-competition covenants contained in Article 19; and
- 18.1.8. in the event this Agreement is terminated due to Franchisee's default, pay Franchisor a lump sum payment (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) in an amount equal to: (a) the average weekly Royalty Fee and Brand Fund Contribution payable by Franchisee over the twelve (12) month period immediately prior to the date of termination (or such shorter time period if the Franchised Business has been open less than twelve (12) months);
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 44–45)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
Based on the 2024 Fly Fitness Franchise Disclosure Document, the term 'Principal' is used in conjunction with the franchisee's obligations upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement. Specifically, both the franchisee and any principal involved are required to cease operating the franchised business and are prohibited from identifying themselves as a Fly Fitness owner, franchisee, or licensee. They must also discontinue using any trademarks, logos, or intellectual property associated with Fly Fitness. This suggests a 'Principal' is an individual who holds a significant role or stake in the franchise, such that their actions are similarly bound by the terms of the agreement, especially post-termination.
Furthermore, the agreement stipulates that both the franchisee and any principals are subject to non-compete obligations during the term of the agreement and for a period of twenty-four months after termination or transfer. This includes restrictions on diverting business, participating in similar fitness businesses, or soliciting employees within a specified radius of the Fly Fitness territory. This underscores the importance of the 'Principal' having a vested interest and influence over the franchise's operations and customer relationships.
The FDD also mentions that the Franchisee and Principal(s) must protect Fly Fitness's confidential information and rights. This obligation extends to not engaging in activities that could harm the goodwill associated with the Fly Fitness brand or interfere with the business of the franchisor or other franchisees. The inclusion of 'Principal(s)' alongside the franchisee in these clauses indicates that these individuals are considered key figures whose actions could significantly impact the Fly Fitness system. However, the document does not explicitly define the criteria or qualifications for someone to be considered a 'Principal'.
In summary, while the FDD does not provide a precise definition of 'Principal,' it implies that a 'Principal' is an individual with significant control, ownership, or influence over the Fly Fitness franchise, whose actions and obligations are closely tied to those of the franchisee, particularly concerning post-termination restrictions and protection of Fly Fitness's interests. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Fly Fitness regarding the specific criteria used to identify a 'Principal' and the implications of this designation.