What must be made clear when the Franchisee or its representatives use their titles in relation to the Southern Steer franchise?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In all dealings with third parties including, without limitation, employees, suppliers, vendors, manufacturers, distributors, other franchisees and customers, Franchisee will disclose in an appropriate manner acceptable to Franchisor that Franchisee are an independent entity licensed by Franchisor.
Any time Franchisee or its Operating Principal, Designated Manager or employees use their titles (e.g., president) it must be made clear that such person holds that position with Franchisee's entity and not with Franchisor.
Source: Item 22 — ITEM. 22 CONTRACTS (FDD pages 61–168)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Southern Steer Franchise Disclosure Document, when a franchisee, its Operating Principal, Designated Manager, or employees use their titles, such as 'president,' it must be explicitly stated that the person holds that position within the franchisee's entity and not with Southern Steer itself. This distinction is crucial to maintain the legal separation between the franchisee's business and the Southern Steer franchisor.
This requirement ensures that third parties, including customers, suppliers, and employees, understand that the franchisee is an independent entity operating under a license from Southern Steer, rather than being directly employed by the franchisor. This is a common practice in franchising to avoid any misrepresentation of the relationship between the parties involved.
For a prospective Southern Steer franchisee, this means that all business cards, email signatures, and other forms of identification must clearly indicate that the individual is associated with the franchisee's company, not Southern Steer Franchising International, LLC. This may require specific language or disclaimers to be included on these materials, as outlined in the Brand Manual or as otherwise directed by Southern Steer. Failure to comply with this requirement could potentially lead to legal or contractual issues, as it could blur the lines of responsibility and liability between the franchisor and franchisee.