During the term of the Fly Fitness agreement, can a developer divert business from other franchisees to a competitor?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- 8.3 Noncompetition Covenants. Developer acknowledges that, pursuant to this Agreement, Developer will receive valuable training, trade secrets and Confidential Information of the System that are beyond the present knowledge, training, and experience of Developer. Developer acknowledges that such specialized training, trade secrets and Confidential Information provide a competitive advantage and will be valuable to him or her in the development and operation of Franchised Businesses, and that gaining access to such specialized training, trade secrets and Confidential Information is, therefore, a primary reason why Developer is entering into this Agreement. In consideration for such specialized training, trade secrets, Confidential Information and rights, Developer covenants that, except as otherwise approved in writing by Franchisor:
- 8.3.1 During the term of this Agreement, Developer shall not, either directly or indirectly, for himself or herself or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any person or entity (i) divert, or attempt to divert, any business or customer of any Franchised Business to be developed hereunder or of other franchisees in the System to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise; (ii) participate as an owner, partner, director, officer, employee, consultant or agent or serve in any other capacity in any restaurant or eatery business similar to the System ("Competitive Business"); or (iii) seek to employ any person who is at that time employed by Franchisor; or (iv) do or perform, directly or indirectly, any other act injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with the Marks and the System or (v) in any manner interfere with, disturb, disrupt, decrease or otherwise jeopardize the
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 45–182)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, during the term of the agreement, a developer is prohibited from diverting business or customers of any franchised business to a competitor. Specifically, the developer cannot directly or indirectly induce customers away from Fly Fitness or other franchisees in the system.
This restriction is part of the noncompetition covenants that the developer agrees to in exchange for receiving valuable training, trade secrets, and confidential information from Fly Fitness. The FDD states that this specialized training and information provide a competitive advantage, making it a primary reason for entering into the agreement.
This means that while operating a Fly Fitness development, the developer must focus on growing the Fly Fitness business and cannot actively work to benefit a competing business by drawing customers away from the Fly Fitness system. This obligation is in place to protect the Fly Fitness brand and the interests of other franchisees within the system.