Has Gokhale Method conducted business or offered franchises in any other line of business besides the Gokhale Method?
Gokhale_Method Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
We are a corporation formed under California law on November 3, 2011. Our principal business address is 3790 El Camino Real #1033, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Our agent or agents to receive service of process, is Esther Gokhale, GMI, 3790 El Camino Real #1033, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Our sole business is the offer and sale of franchises hereunder and the performance of our duties under the Franchise Agreements as franchisor. We previously taught the Gokhale Method and operated a business of the type being offered herein at our headquarters in Palo Alto, California. We have not conducted business or offered franchises in any other line of business.
Parent or Predecessor. Esther Gokhale, our founder and president, is our predecessor and has conducted classes in yoga and posture since at least 1980. She began teaching classes dedicated to posture for back pain in 1992 and was certified to teach Aplomb®, a branded form of posture instruction, in 1993. Beginning in approximately 1996, Ms. Gokhale began researching and developing the distinctive style, content and pedagogic approach that became the Gokhale Method. The name Gokhale Method was trademarked in 2010. In April, 2008, she published the book & Steps to a Pain Free Back, and at that time began teaching group courses in posture to relieve back pain. Other than as disclosed above, Ms. Gokhale has not conducted business in any other line of business, and has not offered franchises in any other line of business. Ms. Gokhale entered into Affiliate Program Agreements, described immediately below, which may be considered the offering of franchises in this line of business.
Our parent corporation, which owns all interest in us, is Gokhale Method Enterprise, Inc. ("GME"). GME is located at 3790 El Camino Real #1033, Palo Alto, CA 94306. GME is wholly owned by Esther Gokhale. GME is engaged in the business of teaching the Gokhale Method to individuals and to employees of corporations and of operating a business of the type being offered herein.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–10)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Gokhale Method Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor, Gokhale Method Institute, Inc., has not conducted business or offered franchises in any other line of business besides offering and selling Gokhale Method franchises. However, Esther Gokhale, the founder and president of Gokhale Method, is considered a predecessor and has taught yoga and posture classes since 1980. She also taught classes dedicated to posture for back pain starting in 1992 and was certified to teach Aplomb®, a branded form of posture instruction, in 1993.
Prior to franchising, from 2009 to February 2011, Ms. Gokhale offered "Affiliate Program Agreements" that allowed individuals to teach the Gokhale Method in exchange for $3,000 for training and a fixed payment for each student taught. These agreements might have been considered franchises under certain laws. These affiliate agreements were converted to franchises or terminated by 2012, and no further affiliate agreements have been offered since 2011.
Gokhale Method Institute, Inc. may authorize franchisees to offer other wellness offerings and to sell other products or services in the future. They also reserve the right to offer franchises to yoga, wellness, or similar instructors who may teach the Gokhale Method as a supplement to their offerings. Prospective franchisees should inquire about any specific plans for additional offerings or products and how those might impact their business.