What are Mr. Sandless franchisees, their employees, and their heirs prohibited from doing with the Confidential Information?
Mr_Sandless Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Business layout, advertising formats, accounting systems, operations systems, policies, procedures, systems, compilations of information, records, specifications, manuals, methods and procedures for sandless wood floor refinishing, dustless wood floor refinishing, sand and stain wood floor refinishing, wood floor care, wood floor cleaning, and floor maintenance, exterior wood refinishing, wood care, wood cleaning, and wood maintenance and other confidential information which we or our affiliates have developed for use in the operation of Mr. Sandless Businesses. You may not contest, directly or indirectly, our ownership of our trade secrets, methods or procedures, or contest our right to register, use or license others to use any such trade secrets, methods and procedures. You (including your partners, officers, directors, shareholders, as applicable), your employees, and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, are prohibited from using and/or disclosing any Confidential Information in any manner other than as we permit and must execute Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement in the form attached as Attachment 4.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Mr. Sandless's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees, their employees, and their heirs are prohibited from using or disclosing any Confidential Information in any manner not explicitly permitted by Mr. Sandless. They must also sign a Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement, the form of which is included as Attachment 4 in the Franchise Agreement.
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, business layout, advertising formats, accounting systems, operations systems, policies, procedures, systems, compilations of information, records, specifications, manuals, methods and procedures for sandless wood floor refinishing, dustless wood floor refinishing, sand and stain wood floor refinishing, wood floor care, wood floor cleaning, and floor maintenance, exterior wood refinishing, wood care, wood cleaning, and wood maintenance and other confidential information which Mr. Sandless or its affiliates have developed for use in the operation of Mr. Sandless Businesses.
This restriction is typical in franchising to protect the franchisor's proprietary information and trade secrets. The Confidentiality and Non-Compete Agreement ensures that those with access to sensitive business information are legally bound to protect it, both during and after their association with the Mr. Sandless franchise. Franchisees should carefully review Attachment 4 to fully understand the scope of these restrictions and obligations.