Can a Ledgers franchisee use the internet to market outside their territory?
Ledgers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You and other franchisees may not solicit (but may accept) orders from consumers outside of your Territory, including through the use of other channels of distribution, such as the Internet, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing, but you may engage in internet and social media marketing pursuant to our guidelines which such marketing may extend outside your Territory.
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 32–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ledgers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally restricted from actively soliciting customers outside of their designated territory. However, Ledgers franchisees are permitted to engage in internet and social media marketing, even if such marketing extends beyond their territory, provided they adhere to Ledgers's specific guidelines. This allows franchisees to leverage online platforms for broader brand awareness and potential customer reach, while still respecting territorial boundaries regarding direct solicitation.
Despite the allowance for internet and social media marketing beyond the territory, Ledgers retains the right to use various channels, including the internet, to solicit or accept customers within a franchisee's territory without providing compensation. The FDD specifies that Ledgers will normally direct inquiries for services from within a franchisee's territory to their franchised business. This means that while Ledgers can market online within a franchisee's territory, they typically pass on direct leads to the local franchisee.
This policy balances the need for franchisees to have some territorial protection with Ledgers's broader marketing strategies. Franchisees should be aware that while they can market online outside their territory, they are still subject to Ledgers's guidelines. Furthermore, Ledgers reserves the right to market within the franchisee's territory through its own channels, though it typically directs local inquiries to the franchisee. Franchisees should seek clarification on these guidelines and protocols during their due diligence to fully understand the implications for their marketing efforts and potential customer acquisition.