Is the Gokhale Method franchise obligated to conduct any advertising for franchisees?
Gokhale_Method Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Promotion
We are not obligated to conduct any advertising, either on our own behalf or for you, in any medium, or on a local, regional or national basis. We currently maintain a website that describes the Gokhale Method and on which students can search and register for classes.
Local Marketing, Advertising and Promotion
In order to promote the Gokhale Method, you are required to conduct free workshops; over the course of a year, the number of people to whom you have presented free workshops should be double the number you have actually taught.
You may also promote your classes with brochures that we will supply at a reasonable fee; email blasts, which we will administer for a reasonable fee; and local print, radio or television advertising, which will be incurred at your expense. We will make available to you templates for advertising that you may customize by adding your name, address and other identifying information. You may not use your own advertising materials. You may not advertise on the internet except through our website and email blasts.
There are no local or regional advertising cooperatives, and we do not reserve the right to require you to form, change, dissolve or merge an advertising cooperative.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 18–23)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Gokhale Method Franchise Disclosure Document, Gokhale Method is not obligated to conduct any advertising for franchisees. This means that franchisees cannot rely on Gokhale Method to provide advertising on a local, regional, or national level. However, Gokhale Method does maintain a website that describes the Gokhale Method and allows students to search and register for classes.
While Gokhale Method is not obligated to conduct advertising, franchisees are required to promote the Gokhale Method by conducting free workshops. Over the course of a year, the number of people to whom the franchisee has presented free workshops should be double the number the franchisee has actually taught. Franchisees can also promote their classes with brochures supplied by Gokhale Method for a reasonable fee, email blasts administered by Gokhale Method for a reasonable fee, and local print, radio, or television advertising, which will be incurred at the franchisee's expense.
It is important to note that franchisees may only use advertising materials provided or approved by Gokhale Method. Franchisees may customize provided templates by adding their name, address, and other identifying information. Franchisees are prohibited from using their own advertising materials and from advertising on the internet, except through Gokhale Method's website and email blasts. There are no local or regional advertising cooperatives, and Gokhale Method does not reserve the right to require franchisees to form, change, dissolve, or merge an advertising cooperative.