What are the advertising and promotion guidelines for a Petro Stopping Center franchise?
Petro_Stopping_Center Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
13. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION.
- 13.1 Use of Monthly Advertising Fees.
We will direct all advertising, marketing and public relations programs and materials that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole judgment.
We have sole discretion over all activities, including without limitation, the creative concepts, materials and endorsements, and the geographic, market and media placement and allocation.
You agree that your Monthly Advertising Fees may be used to pay the costs of, without limitations, preparing and producing video, audio and written advertising materials; administering regional and multi-regional advertising programs, including, without limitation, purchasing direct mail and other media advertising and employing advertising, promotion and marketing agencies; marketing and advertising training programs and materials; and supporting public relations, market research and other advertising, promotion and marketing activities.
The Monthly Advertising Fee is non-refundable.
- 13.2 Advertising Limitations.
You acknowledge that our Advertising activities are intended to maximize recognition of the Marks and patronage of Petro Centers.
Although we will endeavor to benefit all Petro Centers, we undertake no obligation to ensure that our advertising expenditures in or affecting any geographic area are proportionate or equivalent to your Monthly Advertising Fee payments to us, or that any Petro Center will benefit directly or in proportion to its Monthly Advertising Fees.
- 13.3 Local Advertising and Promotion.
You agree that any advertising, promotion and marketing you conduct will be completely clear and factual and not misleading and conform to the highest standards of ethical marketing and the promotion policies which we prescribe from time to time.
We reserve the right to inspect and approve or disapprove all advertising, promotional, and marketing materials and marketing campaigns.
- 13.4 Websites.
We have the right to control or designate the manner of your use of all e-names.
We also have the right to designate, approve, control or limit all aspects of your use of e-commerce.
You must follow all of our policies and procedures for the use and regulation of ecommerce, including all of our policies and procedures for customer referrals via e-commerce.
We may require that you provide graphical, photographic, written or other forms of artistic or literary content to us for use in e-commerce activities associated with the Marks or the Petro System which we may designate.
Source: Item 14 — Other investments (FDD pages 131–208)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Petro Stopping Center's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Petro Franchise Systems LLC maintains control over advertising, marketing, and public relations programs. Petro Stopping Center directs all advertising efforts, including creative concepts, materials, endorsements, and media placement. The monthly advertising fees franchisees pay are used to cover the costs of these activities, such as producing advertising materials, administering regional programs, and supporting public relations. These fees are non-refundable. While Petro Stopping Center aims to benefit all locations, there's no guarantee that advertising expenditures in any area will be proportionate to a franchisee's monthly advertising fee payments.
Franchisees are permitted to conduct their own local advertising and promotion, but these efforts must be clear, factual, and ethical, adhering to Petro Stopping Center's prescribed policies. Petro Stopping Center retains the right to inspect and approve or disapprove all advertising and marketing materials and campaigns initiated by franchisees. This ensures that all advertising aligns with the brand's standards and image.
Regarding online presence, Petro Stopping Center controls the use of e-names and e-commerce activities associated with the brand. Franchisees must adhere to Petro Stopping Center's policies and procedures for e-commerce, including customer referrals. Petro Stopping Center may also require franchisees to provide content for use in e-commerce activities related to the Petro System. This centralized control over advertising and online activities allows Petro Stopping Center to maintain brand consistency and maximize recognition of the Petro Centers.