For Augusta Lawn Care franchisees in Maryland, what condition must be met before initial fees are due?
Augusta_Lawn_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
AMENDMENT TO THE FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND
As to franchises governed by the Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law, if any of the terms of the Disclosure Document are inconsistent with the terms below, the terms below control.
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- The Office of the Attorney General of the State of Maryland requires us to defer payment of the initial franchise fee and other initial payments owed by Franchisee to Augusta Lawn Care under until Augusta Lawn Care has completed its pre-opening obligations under the Agreement, and Franchisee has commenced operations. Therefore, and notwithstanding Section 6.1, Section 6.2, or any other provision of the Agreement, all initial fees will be deferred until after Augusta Lawn Care's initial obligations to Franchisee are complete, and Franchisee has commenced operations.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 44–184)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Augusta Lawn Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees in Maryland do not have to pay initial fees until certain conditions are met. Specifically, the initial fees are deferred until after Augusta Lawn Care has completed its pre-opening obligations to the franchisee, and the franchisee has commenced operations. This amendment to the franchise agreement is required by the state of Maryland.
This means that prospective Augusta Lawn Care franchisees in Maryland will not be required to pay the initial franchise fee upfront. Instead, the payment is delayed until Augusta Lawn Care has fulfilled its initial responsibilities, such as providing training and support to help the franchisee get started. Once these obligations are met and the franchisee has started running their Augusta Lawn Care business, the initial fees become due.
This deferral of initial fees can be a significant benefit for new franchisees in Maryland, as it reduces the upfront financial burden and allows them to focus on launching their business. It also provides some assurance that Augusta Lawn Care is committed to providing the necessary support before requiring payment of the initial fees. This type of protection is mandated by Maryland franchise law to protect franchisees.