Is Gokhale Method required to operate a database for student records?
Gokhale_Method Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Our ongoing obligations to you during the operation of your Franchised Business include:
Providing continuing training, including Teacher Webinar, an Annual Meeting and/or an alternative continuing education option, and other continuing training as we may determine from time to time (Section 7.2);
Providing you with ongoing advice, as we deem necessary in our sole discretion, concerning operation of your Franchised Business and the Gokhale System (Section 4.7) and, in our discretion, inspecting your Franchised Business (Section 4.5);
Operating, in our sole discretion, a website on which your group courses may be posted (Section 4.9);
Operating, in our discretion, a database in which your student records will reside, and that will be used for general recordkeeping (Section 4.9);
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 does not require franchisees to operate a database for student records. Rather, Gokhale Method states that it will operate a database for student records, in its discretion.
Specifically, Gokhale Method states that its ongoing obligations to the franchisee include "Operating, in our discretion, a database in which your student records will reside, and that will be used for general recordkeeping". This means that Gokhale Method retains the option to manage student records centrally.
However, franchisees are required to store certain customer information on their computers, including customer names, addresses, contact information, payment amounts, courses taken, and payment methods. Franchisees must share this information with Gokhale Method by inputting it into the franchisor's system as directed. Gokhale Method retains the right to require franchisees to store and input additional information in the future.