Is a Southern Steer franchisee allowed to create their own advertising materials?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
basis You must spend 1% of Your Gross Revenue on local advertising and promotion of Your Southern Steer Business in Your Protected Area ("Local Advertising Requirement").
We may require You to provide documentation of Your Local Advertising Requirement at any time.
You may create Your own advertising materials; however, all Your advertising must be in media of a type, format, and manner of communication that We approve and must conform to the standards and requirements We specify in the Brand Manual. You may not post any advertisements on the Internet or use any of Our Trademarks as part of a domain name, anywhere on the Internet, or on any advertising materials that We have not approved.
You may not use any advertising or promotional plans or materials until You receive Our written approval. We will approve or disapprove of Your advertising within 10 business days of the date We receive the advertising materials. If You do not receive written approval within 10 business days after We receive the materials, Your advertising and sale promotion materials will be deemed disapproved. You will not use Our Marks in any advertising or promotional materials without the appropriate copyright, trademark, and service mark symbols ("©", "®", "TM" or "SM") as We direct. Additionally, You must promote and participate in different promotional programs that We designate in the Brand Manual. You may not advertise or use any of the Marks on the Internet except after obtaining Our consent. Any advertising on the Internet must be pre-approved by Us and on terms specified by Us. Further, You may not use the Marks (or any marks or names confusingly similar to the Marks) as an Internet domain name, user or account name, or in the content of any website or in any social media (such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest or Twitter). If you separately register any social media account containing the Mark
Source: Item 11 — ITEM. 11 FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are permitted to create their own advertising materials for their Southern Steer business. However, these materials are subject to certain restrictions and require approval from Southern Steer. Specifically, all advertising must be in a format and manner approved by Southern Steer and must adhere to the standards outlined in the Brand Manual.
The FDD stipulates that franchisees cannot post unapproved advertisements on the Internet or use Southern Steer's trademarks as part of a domain name or on unapproved advertising materials. Franchisees must submit their advertising and promotional plans to Southern Steer for written approval, which Southern Steer will provide or deny within 10 business days. Failure to receive written approval within this timeframe means the materials are deemed disapproved.
Franchisees must also use the appropriate copyright, trademark, and service mark symbols as directed by Southern Steer in all advertising and promotional materials. Furthermore, franchisees are required to participate in promotional programs designated in the Brand Manual. These regulations ensure that all advertising aligns with Southern Steer's brand standards while allowing franchisees some degree of creative control within those boundaries.