Will Southern Steer review and approve the local marketing for a Southern Steer Business?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
with a page on Our designated website. (see Section 8.4 of the Franchise Agreement).
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- Administer the Brand Fund, if any. You will pay the Brand Fund Contribution. (see Section13 of the Franchise Agreement).
Advertising and Marketing
Local Advertising
You are required to engage in marketing activities to promote Your Southern Steer Business. On an annual 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 Marks or related to the Southern Steer Business with or without our consent You must (1) promptly notify us and provide us with all necessary information relating to the social media account that we may require; and (2) the social media account will become our property.
Grand Opening Marketing.
Source: Item 11 — ITEM. 11 FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Southern Steer Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to engage in local marketing activities, spending 1% of gross revenue annually on local advertising and promotion within their protected area. While franchisees can create their own advertising materials, Southern Steer must approve the media type, format, and manner of communication, ensuring it conforms to the standards outlined in the Brand Manual. Franchisees cannot post unapproved advertisements online or use Southern Steer's trademarks in domain names or advertising without prior consent.
Southern Steer requires franchisees to submit advertising and promotional plans for written approval before use. The franchisor commits to reviewing and either approving or disapproving the submitted materials within 10 business days. Failure to receive written approval within this timeframe results in the advertising being deemed disapproved. Franchisees must also use the appropriate copyright, trademark, and service mark symbols as directed by Southern Steer in all advertising materials.
In addition to individual local advertising efforts, Southern Steer may establish local advertising cooperatives in certain areas. If a franchisee's Southern Steer Business is located within a designated cooperative area, they must join and contribute up to 1% of their gross revenue from the prior month to the cooperative. These cooperative fees will count toward the franchisee's local advertising requirement but are in addition to the Brand Fund Contribution. Southern Steer retains the right to approve any changes to the cooperative's bylaws or organizational structure, ensuring all advertising and promotional materials align with their standards.
Southern Steer also provides general marketing recommendations and materials periodically, though these are at the franchisee's cost. The franchisor will review and approve the local marketing strategies for each Southern Steer Business, ensuring consistency and adherence to brand standards. Franchisees must also participate in promotional programs designated by Southern Steer in the Brand Manual.