Is the Stretch Zone franchisee required to use the Stretch Zone website?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (b) Website. We will maintain the Website for use by our Franchisees and us in accordance with Subsection 4.12(d) and Section 7.3(a).
- (c) E-mail Address and Accounts. We provide you a store e-mail address, use of which is limited to Franchise Owners, the Designated Representative and your Regional Manager. We have established reasonable standards for e-mail accounts and their use, which we may periodically revise. You will have reasonable time within which to upgrade when standards change. From timeto-time, we will send important information to your Stretch Zone e-mail address. In order to stay informed on developments affecting the Business System and your Franchise Business, you agree to check your e-mail at least daily except for Sundays. You must respond to any request we send to you by e-mail that requires a response within 24 hours of your receipt of our e-mail. You must send to us an acknowledgment of receipt of our e-mail to you.
Source: Item 8 — Receipts. Any sale made must be in compliance with § 683(8) of the Franchise Sale Act (N.Y. Gen. Bus. L. § 680 et seq.), which describes the time period a Franchise Disclosure Document (offering prospectus) must be provided to a prospective franchisee before a sale may be made. New York law requires a franchisor to provide the Franchise Disclosure Document at the earliest of the first personal meeting or ten (10) business days before the execution of the franchise or other agreement or the payment of any consideration that relates to the franchise relationship. (FDD pages 99–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Stretch Zone FDD, Stretch Zone will maintain a website for use by its franchisees. While Stretch Zone maintains the website, the FDD does not explicitly state that franchisees are required to use it.
However, Stretch Zone franchisees are required to adhere to certain technology and communication standards. Specifically, franchisees receive a store email address, and they must check this email daily (except Sundays) and respond to requests within 24 hours. This suggests that while the website's mandatory usage isn't specified, franchisees are expected to maintain consistent communication with Stretch Zone through digital channels.
Prospective Stretch Zone franchisees should clarify with the franchisor the extent to which they are required to use the Stretch Zone website for business operations, marketing, or customer communication. Understanding the specific requirements and expectations around website usage will be crucial for managing the franchise effectively and staying aligned with Stretch Zone's overall business system.