Can a Focus Cfo franchisee use the Marks without written authorization from Focus CFO?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
twenty-four (24) hours of request from Focus CFO. Focus CFO will provide Franchisee with such Social Media Policy, which it may modify and amend from time-to-time
- 14.4.2. Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that Franchisee must obtain prior written approval to create a social networking account using the Focus CFO Marks or promoting the Focus CFO Services other than the Franchisee's personal accounts, including, without limitation, social networking accounts with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Franchisee must comply with the written policies of Focus CFO in maintaining such social network accounts and Focus CFO shall have the sole discretion to determine which content should be removed.
- 14.5. Limitation on Franchisee's Use of Focus CFO Marks. Franchisee shall use the Focus CFO Marks as the sole trade identification of the Focus CFO Services. Franchisee shall not use any Focus CFO Mark as part of any corporate or trade name or with any prefix, suffix or other modifying words, terms, designs or symbols or in modified form, nor may Franchisee use any Focus CFO Mark in connection with the sale of any products or the performance of any services not expressly authorized in writing by Focus CFO. Franchisee agrees to prominently display the Focus CFO Marks in the manner prescribed from time-to-time by Focus CFO.
15. CONFIDENTIALITY; MARKS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
- 15.1. It is understood that while performing services for clients, Franchisee will be provided with or will have access to confidential information regarding their business, including, their operations, financial statements, products and customers and Franchisee will also be provided with confidential information relating to Focus CFO, including but not limited to access to the confidential and proprietary Playbook ("Confidential Information").
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Focus Cfo Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee's use of the Focus CFO Marks is restricted and generally requires written authorization from Focus CFO. Focus CFO retains all ownership rights in the Marks, and franchisees are granted a non-exclusive right to market and offer CFO Services under the Focus CFO name and Marks only during the term of the agreement.
Specifically, a Focus Cfo franchisee must get prior written approval from Focus CFO to create social networking accounts using the Focus CFO Marks or promoting Focus CFO Services, excluding the franchisee's personal accounts. This includes social networking accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Franchisees also need written approval for any workshops or additional advertising materials they develop.
Furthermore, the Focus Cfo franchisee must use the Focus CFO Marks as the sole trade identification of the Focus CFO Services and cannot use any Focus CFO Mark as part of any corporate or trade name or with any prefix, suffix or other modifying words, terms, designs or symbols or in modified form. Nor can the franchisee use any Focus CFO Mark in connection with the sale of any products or the performance of any services not expressly authorized in writing by Focus CFO. This means a franchisee must be diligent in seeking and obtaining written authorization for any usage of the Focus CFO Marks outside of the standard marketing and service offerings.