Can a Management Recruiters Franchisee engage in activities outside the scope of the franchise?
Management_Recruiters Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
l deliver executed copies of such agreements to Franchisor.
17. NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICITATION, CONFIDENTIALITY
- 17.1. Franchisee's Covenant Not to Compete During Term of Agreement; Exclusivity. Franchisee recognizes that Franchisor's Trade Secrets are the underpinning of Franchisor's business, protection of the Trade Secrets is a matter of critical importance to Franchisor, and Franchisee acknowledges Franchisor's need to protect the Trade Secrets against unauthorized use or disclosure as well as Franchisor's simultaneous need to encourage free exchange of ideas and information among Franchisor's franchisees. Franchisee agrees that neither Franchisee, nor, as applicable, any shareholder who owns more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding capital stock of Franchisee, nor any general partner, director, officer, manager, nor other key employee of Franchisee, nor a Family Member of any such person, shall directly or indirectly, as an owner, manager, employee, operator, consultant, agent, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director or in any other capacity or in any other manner whatsoever, engage in or perform services for or hold an ownership interest in any competing business, or any entity that grants franchises or licenses to others to conduct or operate any competing businesses, during the Term of this Agreement, except under a franchise agreement with Franchisor or its Affiliates. Franchisee and its shareholders, officers, directors, and partners agree to devote their best efforts exclusively to the best interests of Franchisor and Franchisee's promise to deal exclusively with Franchisor is a significant element of the consideration for which Franchisor grants the rights in this Agreement and Franchisor has entered into this Agreement in reliance upon such promise. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "competing business" shall mean a business engaged in the search, recruiting and/or placement of permanent or temporary employees, temporary staffing of skilled and/or unskilled personnel (including, without limitation, clerical, computer, technical, accounting, driving/transportation, and medical), employee leasing, or a related enterprise.
- 17.2. Solicitation of Customers. Franchisee shall not, without the prior written consent of Franchisor, either directly or indirectly, on its own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, divert, or appropriate to any competing business, any person or entity which is, or was at any time during the preceding two (2) year period, a customer of the Franchise Business.
- 17.3. Employees' Covenants Not to Compete, Non-Solicitation, Confidential Information. Where allowed by Law, Franchisee shall obtain from each of its employees within five (5) days after the date of this Agreement, or the date of employment of each employee, whichever is later, covenants and agreements not to compete, not to solicit customers or employees to a competing business, and not to divulge confidential information to a competing business all in form and substance satisfactory to Franchisor. Such covenants and agreements shall be for the benefit of and enforceable by Franchisor against the employee. In the event that Franchisee becomes aware of any actual or threatened violation of any such covenants and agreements by any of its employees, Franchisee shall within ten (10) days of becoming aware of such actual or threatened violation fully advise Franchisor in writing of all related facts known to Franchisee regarding same. Franchisee may take action to prevent or stop any such violation as it deems appropriate, at its own expense, except that, it may not waive its rights or give any release without the express written consent of Franchisor.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 67–327)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Management Recruiters' 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are significantly restricted from engaging in other businesses during the term of their agreement. Specifically, franchisees (including their shareholders with more than 3% ownership, general partners, directors, officers, managers, key employees, and their family members) are prohibited from owning, managing, or working for any competing business. This restriction applies to any business involved in the search, recruiting, or placement of permanent or temporary employees, temporary staffing, employee leasing, or related activities.
Management Recruiters emphasizes that franchisees must devote their best efforts exclusively to the interests of the franchisor. This exclusive dealing arrangement is a key consideration for Management Recruiters granting the franchise rights. The FDD defines a "competing business" broadly, encompassing various aspects of the employment and staffing industry, ensuring that franchisees focus solely on the Management Recruiters business model during the term of the agreement.
After the franchise agreement expires or terminates, the franchisee is still restricted for a period of two years. During this time, they cannot participate in any business whose primary function is temporary or permanent employee placement, or engage in any "competing business" as defined in the agreement. They are also prohibited from soliciting clients or employees of the Management Recruiters franchise or sharing confidential information with any competing business. An exception exists for owning less than 3% of the stock in a publicly-traded company.
These non-compete and exclusivity clauses are common in franchising to protect the brand's market position and confidential information. Prospective Management Recruiters franchisees should carefully consider these restrictions and how they might impact their future business opportunities. It is important to fully understand the definition of "competing business" and the scope of activities that are prohibited both during and after the franchise term.