Franchisor Policies for Unlicensed or Sold Territories


Franchisors often have issues when they own a brand which has service vehicles; where franchisees wish to operate in non-franchise assigned territories. We had this as a re-occurring issue in our franchise system. We came up with this policy, which is also in our Confidential Operations Manuals. Here is a sample policy for our franchisees:

"Unlicensed Areas"

"If you are called into an unlicensed territory for service, you may service that particular client. You will obviously pick up additional clients in those areas from referrals, leads and people who see the truck. It's ok to service these customers. However, you must:

Not have over one-third of your clientele out of your exclusive territory

Give up these clients if we sell that adjacent territory to a new franchisee

You must let us know which other area you are working in

We don't recommend washing cars outside your exclusive territory because it will cost you many hours in travel time over the course of a week. Fifteen minutes here, twenty minutes there. It adds up, trust us. We have assigned you an exclusive area, which will more than suffice. After all:

You know the area

You live in the territory

You have a perfect mix of business

We spent money marketing that area

If you are occasionally called to a non-assigned or unlicensed territory and you find another franchisee is also working that area, it's ok to split the area amongst yourselves with the understanding that which ever buildings/customers they were doing prior to your coming in that area you should honor. You and the other franchisee might both have to give up those customers if we sell or assign that territory and retreat back to your exclusive territory. Be advised that this can happen and it has before. If these customers you have been servicing are very important to you, you may want to purchase that additional area. We of, course, would love for you to have this as part of your exclusive territory because you are one of our best franchisees. Contact your regional director to start the negotiation process. And, by the way, don't bring your attorney to the negotiations. This is a very informal procedure.

We are all on the same team. If you can handle the additional customer demand and our staff likes you, I'm sure we can negotiate a fair deal for all concerned."

If you are a franchisor of a home based or service franchise system you must address this situation or you might wind up in court defending what is generally understood by all parties anyway. Think about this and get your policy ready and let it be known.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs







Related News



Nouveau niche and hot button branding - Malaysia Star

Nouveau niche and hot button branding
Malaysia Star, Malaysia -5 hours ago
At its best, Try-vertising is going nouveau niche and hot button branding. Trendwatching.com defines it as “it is a new breed of product placement in the ...


Ethics in Business: For Goodness' Sake Or Moral Branding? - Wall Street Journal

Ethics in Business: For Goodness' Sake Or Moral Branding?
Wall Street Journal -3 hours ago
Your article isn't about ethics, but about the business decision to capitalize on ethical branding. And as we all know, branding is about persuasion, ...

Endemol hires branding exec - Broadcastnow

Endemol hires branding exec
Broadcastnow, UK -6 hours ago
Endemol has strengthened its commitment to advertiser-funded programming with the appointment of its first executive director of branded entertainment. ...

Howells on Target for branding role - C21Media

Howells on Target for branding role
C21Media, UK -15 hours ago
London-based distributor Target Entertainment has promoted its current director of international licensing, Helen Howells, to the newly created role of ...

PIA Debuts Radio Ads in Agent Branding Program - Earthtimes (press release)

PIA Debuts Radio Ads in Agent Branding Program
Earthtimes (press release), UK -15 hours ago
PIA's new radio ads complement the 251 print ads already available to PIA members as part of PIA's Main Street branding campaign. ...
PIA Promotes Besesparis to Senior VP, CommunicationsEarthtimes (press release)
all 11 news articles

FACTBOX: Branding and product placement in Hollywood - Reuters

FACTBOX: Branding and product placement in Hollywood
Reuters -May 15, 2008
..."Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," according to Brandchannel, an online magazine about branding. ...

Tech Data launches TechSelect partner branding - eChannelLine

Tech Data launches TechSelect partner branding
eChannelLine, Canada -10 hours ago
By Erin Bell Tech Data has announced its TechSelect Partner branding program, an initiative designed to help members in the TechSelect community of SMB ...

Greenroom hires Reform for re-branding - Crain's Manchester Business

Greenroom hires Reform for re-branding
Crain's Manchester Business, UK -19 hours ago
“Although we’d grown attached to our old branding, we felt it time for a change to something that really reflects Greenroom’s experimental values and ...
Greenroom re-brands with Reform CreativeUtalkmarketing
all 2 news articles

US stops short of branding China a currency manipulator - AFP

AFP

US stops short of branding China a currency manipulator
AFP -May 15, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States Thursday accused China of keeping its yuan currency "substantially undervalued," but stopped short of branding Beijing ...

Vertical Branding reports losses for Q1 - Trading Markets (press release)

Earthtimes (press release)

Vertical Branding reports losses for Q1
Trading Markets (press release), CA -19 hours ago
Nancy Duitch, CEO of Vertical Branding, said: "We clearly continued to grapple in the first quarter with some of the challenges that affected the fourth ...
Vertical Branding, Inc. Announces First Quarter Financial ResultsBusiness Wire (press release)
Announces First Quarter Financial Results (2º)InfoBolsa
Atrinsic Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2008 ResultsInfoBolsa
all 242 news articles