What happens if a Mr. Sandless franchisee continues to use the Proprietary Marks after termination?

According to the 2025 Mr. Sandless Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee is obligated to immediately cease using the Proprietary Marks, Copyrights, and Confidential Information, and must refrain from referencing any past association with Mr. Sandless. This includes discontinuing all advertising under the Mr. Sandless name or any similar name and de-identifying service vehicles and office locations.

Furthermore, the franchisee must take action to cancel all registrations related to the use of any Proprietary Marks, including electronic addresses, domain names, search engines, or websites that associate them with Mr. Sandless. They must also cancel any trade name or assumed name registrations and are prohibited from identifying any premises or business as a Mr. Sandless franchise. The franchisee is required to notify the telephone company and listing agencies of the termination of their right to use any telephone number or directory listings associated with the Mr. Sandless name and authorize the transfer of these to Mr. Sandless or a new franchisee.

Additionally, the franchisee is obligated to destroy or surrender all signs, stationery, letterhead, forms, and other printed materials containing any of the Proprietary Marks. They must also return the Operations Manual and other materials containing Confidential Information or Trade Secrets to Mr. Sandless. These obligations are designed to protect Mr. Sandless's brand identity and prevent confusion in the marketplace after a franchise agreement ends.