Where in the Southern Steer manual is accidental price fixing discussed?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Chapter 1: General Information | 51. The Purpose of the Manual 2 |
|---|---|
| 2. How to Use This Manual | 3 |
| 3. The Southern Steer Butcher Story | 5 |
| 4. Guiding Principles | 6 |
| Chapter 2: The Franchise Relationship | 7 |
| 1. The Franchise Defined | 8 |
| 2. The Franchisee/Franchisor Relationship | 9 |
| 2.1. Independent Contractor | 9 |
| 2.2. Independently Owned and Operated | 9 |
| 2.3. You Are the CEO of This Business | 9 |
| 2.4. Joint Employment & Vicarious Liability | 10 |
| 2.5. Prices & Price Fixing | 10 |
| 2.5.1. Accidental Price Fixing | 11 |
Source: Item 5 — and 7 of the FDD, Section 3.1 of the Franchise Agreement and Section 4.1 of the Multi-Unit Development Agreement are hereby amended to state that payment of the initial franchise fee and development fee will be deferred until We have satisfied Our pre-opening obligations, and You have commenced business operations. (FDD pages 168–290)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the topic of accidental price fixing is addressed in the franchise manual. Specifically, it falls under Chapter 2, which generally covers the franchise relationship. Within that chapter, Section 2.5 is dedicated to prices and price fixing, and subsection 2.5.1 directly addresses accidental price fixing. This section is located on page 11 of the Southern Steer manual.
This level of detail in the table of contents suggests that Southern Steer places importance on franchisees understanding the rules around pricing. Price fixing, even if accidental, can have serious legal consequences for both the franchisee and the franchisor. Therefore, Southern Steer franchisees must familiarize themselves with this section of the manual to ensure they operate within legal boundaries.
For a prospective franchisee, this highlights the need to carefully review the training and operational manuals provided by Southern Steer. Understanding the franchisor's policies on pricing and competition is crucial for running a compliant and successful business. It would be prudent for a potential franchisee to discuss specific pricing strategies and any potential pitfalls with existing franchisees during their due diligence.