Aerus Franchising, LLC v. Avacs, LLC & Joe Ardito, American Arbitration Association Case No. 01-25-0000-9771 (filed February 17, 2025). The parties entered into a settlement agreement dated November 5, 2025, wherein they agreed the parties’ franchise agreement had expired June 14, 2024; the former franchisee (Avacs, LLC) and its owner (Joe Ardito) will pay us the outstanding balance owed to us for products not returned to us, and comply with the post-term obligations of the franchise agreement; Joe Ardito may (through a new venture) engage with our affiliate, Aerus Enterprises, LLC as a distributor; and Joe Ardito and Michelle Ardito will cease all use of our and our affiliates’ trademarks and intellectual property, transfer to us an ActivePureUSA internet domain, delete an ActivePureUSA Facebook page, and assign an ActivePureUSA trademark application to our affiliate, ActivePure Medical, LLC. We dismissed the arbitration on November 12, 2025.
From the filings
Aerus Franchising
Home servicesSoftware purchasing at Aerus Franchising is controlled at the corporate level, with CEO Joseph P. Urso and President Kevin Hickey named in the 2026 FDD. The filing names Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter in its technology and training items, and the franchisor reserves the right to require franchisees to use its proprietary software. The addressable market is 148 franchised locations, with 3 company-owned units.
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Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
You may not establish a “Website,” nor offer or promote or sell any products or services or make any use of the Marks, through the Internet without our prior written approval. We do not currently require you to establish or maintain a Website. As a condition to granting our consent, we will have the right to establish requirements that we deem appropriate, including the requirement that your only presence on the Internet will be through a webpage established by us on our website or through a webpage or website developed by a supplier we designate or approve. If we grant you approval to establish and maintain your own Website and you elect to do so, you must use a supplier designated by us in connection with the Website and pay such supplier’s then-current fee. Currently, the sole approved supplier in connection with franchisee Websites is TownSquare Interactive, which currently charges a fee ranging from approximately $200 per month to approximately $485 per month depending on the specific services the franchisee elects and the number of locations the franchisee operates. Any website will be deemed “advertising” under the Franchise Agreement and will be subject to (among other things) our approval. As used in the Franchise Agreement, the term “Website” means an interactive electronic document contained in a network of computers linked by communications software. The term Website includes the Internet and World Wide Web home pages and social media webpages such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and X (formerly known as Twitter) web pages/accounts.
You may not establish a “Website,” nor offer or promote or sell any products or services or make any use of the Marks, through the Internet without our prior written approval. We do not currently require you to establish or maintain a Website. As a condition to granting our consent, we will have the right to establish requirements that we deem appropriate, including the requirement that your only presence on the Internet will be through a webpage established by us on our website or through a webpage or website developed by a supplier we designate or approve. If we grant you approval to establish and maintain your own Website and you elect to do so, you must use a supplier designated by us in connection with the Website and pay such supplier’s then-current fee. Currently, the sole approved supplier in connection with franchisee Websites is TownSquare Interactive, which currently charges a fee ranging from approximately $200 per month to approximately $485 per month depending on the specific services the franchisee elects and the number of locations the franchisee operates. Any website will be deemed “advertising” under the Franchise Agreement and will be subject to (among other things) our approval. As used in the Franchise Agreement, the term “Website” means an interactive electronic document contained in a network of computers linked by communications software. The term Website includes the Internet and World Wide Web home pages and social media webpages such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and X (formerly known as Twitter) web pages/accounts.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
15 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 3 explicit no's; 16 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
Computer System We, or our affiliate, will install at your premises our standard software and communication package, which includes a financial and accounting software package and which also includes a customer database and lead management software package.
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We reserve the right to require all information concerning your Franchised Business to be kept and maintained on a computer to which we have full access.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
We and/or our affiliates are presently the designated supplier of Consigned Products and other Products, Product components and parts, related accessories, and approved proprietary computer hardware and software programs.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 16
There is no limit on our rights to change or modify the types of authorized goods and services required by us for you to operate your business.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
80Item 8
We estimate that required purchases and leases will account for up to 90% of all of your purchases and leases necessary to open a Franchised Business, and up to 80% of your ongoing costs to operate a Franchised Business.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
To obtain approval of a previously unapproved product, service, or supplier, you must submit a written request and provide additional information which we may request.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesItem 17
(1) if you operated the Franchised Business premises under a lease with a third party or, with leased equipment for use in the operation of the Franchised Business, you must assign to us any interest which you had in any lease or sublease for an Approved Location or any equipment related to the Franchised Business…
Franchise management
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 8
We may periodically modify our standards and specifications relating to the operation of an Aerus Business including, for example: standards and specifications for Products, 2026 Aerus FDD 20 111169164.1 Product components, spare parts and other inventory, supplies, signage, equipment; consignment policies; sales and…
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
If you are opening a new location, you will select a proposed site and submit such proposal to us for approval.
Marketing
Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?
YesItem 11
You must make all commercially reasonable efforts to advertise and promote the Franchised Business in the Area of Responsibility, expending an amount equal to at least the Minimum Local Advertising Fee described in this Disclosure Document.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesItem 5
You will purchase the aftermarket and service parts from us, one of our affiliates, or designated suppliers.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Required Purchases You must purchase or lease, install and maintain all of the Products, Product parts and components, fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including electronic cash register, or computer hardware and software and administration systems and satellite communications systems), décor items, signs, uniforms…
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 11
You must designate and retain individuals to serve as the Operating Principal, and for each location, General Manager, Sales Manager and Service Manager (which individual or individuals must, during the entire period he or she serves in such capacity, satisfy all of the qualifications required by us in the Manuals…
Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?
YesItem 8
Required Purchases You must purchase or lease, install and maintain all of the Products, Product parts and components, fixtures, furnishings, equipment (including electronic cash register, or computer hardware and software and administration systems and satellite communications systems), décor items, signs, uniforms…
Point of sale
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We reserve the right to require all information concerning your Franchised Business to be kept and maintained on a computer to which we have full access.
The filing answers no to 3 questions
- Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?Item 8
- Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?Item 8
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Aerus
Aerus Franchising operates 151 total units, of which 148 are franchised and 3 are company-owned. Franchised outlets declined 6.329% year over year. The FDD makes no financial performance representation under Item 19, so no average unit volume figure is available for the cohort the filing defines. The initial franchise term is 1 year, which means franchisees re-sign frequently and the franchisor can update technology requirements at each renewal.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 2 of the FDD names Joseph P. Urso as Manager, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer; Kevin Hickey as Manager, President, Assistant Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary; and Philip Urso as Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President. Bret Holland serves as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and Carl C. Christoff is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary. The franchisor's approval rights over hardware, software, and other equipment mean corporate leadership is the primary buying center for any vendor selling into this system.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
The FDD names Facebook by Meta in Item 3, and LinkedIn and Twitter by X in Item 11. Item 11 states that franchisees must maintain hardware and software that complies with the franchisor's specifications in the Manuals in order to properly run its proprietary software programs. The filing also says the franchisor may expand requirements for information franchisees must maintain on their systems with software it provides or requires. Item 8 designates the franchisor and its affiliates as the current supplier of approved proprietary computer hardware and software programs.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 requires franchisees to purchase or lease, install, and maintain all products, equipment, and computer hardware and software prescribed in the Manuals or otherwise in writing. The franchisor and its affiliates are presently the designated supplier of Consigned Products, other Products, Product components and parts, related accessories, and approved proprietary computer hardware and software programs. Franchisees may propose alternative suppliers for approval. For franchisee websites, the sole approved supplier is TownSquare Interactive, which charges approximately $200 to $485 per month depending on services and location count.
Renewal under Item 17 is available for a 1-year term if the franchisee gives 30 days' written notice, has no uncured default, achieved at least $10,000 in monthly Gross Sales during each of the prior six months, executes the then-current franchise agreement, pays a $100 renewal fee, and signs a general release. Because the term is only one year, the franchisor can introduce new software requirements annually, making renewal periods a natural window for vendor conversations.
How to read the Aerus FDD
The embedded PDF below is Aerus's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Start with Item 8 for supplier and procurement restrictions, Item 11 for technology and training obligations, and Item 17 for renewal and transfer terms. Item 20 lists outlet counts. For a ranked target list of franchise systems that fit your software, talk to FranCloud.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Aerus Franchising, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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Ownership
The portfolio behind Aerus Franchising
Parent company: ActivePure Technologies, LLC.
Related Home services brands
Primary franchise filings · updated October 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.