Is an Itan franchisee required to operate their salon in full compliance with the Itan Manual?
Itan Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
11. OPERATING STANDARDS.
- 11.1. Generally. You must operate your Salon in full compliance with this Agreement, the Manual and our standards in order to maintain the goodwill associated with the Marks.
- 11.2. Brand Standards Manual. You must develop and operate your Salon in strict compliance with the Manual. The Manual may contain, among other things:
- (a) architectural plans and specifications for the design, dimensions, layout, equipping and trade dress for a prototype Salon;
- (b) a list of (i) goods and services (or specifications for goods and services) you must purchase to develop and operate your Salon and (ii) designated and approved suppliers;
- (c) a description of the tanning and spray-on tanning services, beauty and wellness services, merchandise, retail items and other goods and services you may sell;
- (d) specifications, techniques, methods, operating procedures and quality standards; and
- (e) policies and procedures pertaining to: (i) reporting and data entry; (ii) accounting and bookkeeping; (iii) insurance; (iv) marketing and advertising; (v) gift card, loyalty and membership programs; (vi) data ownership, use, transfer and protection; and (vii) any other matters we deem appropriate.
The Manual is designed to establish and protect our brand standards and the uniformity and quality of the goods and services offered by Salons. We can modify the Manual at any time. Modifications are binding at the time we notify you of the change, subject to any "grace period" we provide to implement the change. All mandatory provisions in the Manual (whether included now or in the future) are binding on you. The Manual may consist of written text as well as videos, tutorials, training modules, recordings and/or other means of communication.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 44–190)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Itan's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must operate their salons in full compliance with the franchise agreement, the Itan Manual, and Itan's standards to maintain the goodwill associated with the brand's marks. The Itan Manual contains architectural plans, specifications for salon design, dimensions, layout, equipment, and trade dress. It also includes lists of required goods and services, descriptions of tanning and other services, specifications, techniques, methods, operating procedures, and quality standards. Additionally, the manual outlines policies and procedures for reporting, accounting, insurance, marketing, gift card programs, data handling, and other relevant matters.
The Itan Manual is designed to establish and protect brand standards, ensuring uniformity and quality across all Itan salons. Itan retains the right to modify the manual at any time, and these modifications become binding upon notification to the franchisee, subject to any grace period provided for implementation. All mandatory provisions within the manual, whether present or future, are binding on the franchisee. The manual may consist of written text, videos, tutorials, training modules, recordings, and other communication methods.
Therefore, it is critical for prospective Itan franchisees to understand that strict adherence to the Itan Manual is a condition of the franchise agreement. This includes not only the initial setup and design of the salon but also the ongoing operational procedures, marketing strategies, and service standards. Franchisees should carefully review the manual and any updates to ensure they are fully compliant, as failure to comply could result in penalties or termination of the franchise agreement.