Does Itan require approval of the media I intend to use for advertising?

According to Itan's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must obtain approval for advertising and marketing materials, including the media used. Specifically, if a franchisee chooses to develop their own advertising and marketing programs, Itan must approve them in advance. Furthermore, Itan requires approval of the specific media channels a franchisee intends to utilize for advertising. Franchisees are prohibited from using any advertising materials, programs, or media that have not been explicitly approved by Itan.

This requirement ensures that all advertising efforts align with Itan's brand standards and marketing strategies. It allows Itan to maintain consistency in messaging and protect its brand image across all franchise locations. By controlling the advertising media, Itan can also ensure that franchisees are not using channels that could be detrimental to the brand or ineffective in reaching the target audience.

However, franchisees are restricted in their online presence. Besides the webpage that Itan provides, franchisees cannot develop, host, or maintain a website or other digital presence related to their Salon, utilize the Internet to conduct digital or online advertising, or engage in e-commerce. Itan will set up an Instagram account for the Salon, which Itan will own. Franchisees must regularly post content in accordance with Itan's guidelines and regulations, including that Itan must approve all content prior to posting, and the franchisee must immediately remove any post Itan disapproves.

This level of control is common in franchising, as franchisors seek to maintain brand consistency and protect their trademarks. Prospective Itan franchisees should be aware of these restrictions and be prepared to work within the established guidelines for advertising and marketing.