Can Augusta Lawn Care update or modify the list of approved suppliers?
Augusta_Lawn_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
roved Suppliers
While we do not currently do so, we have the right to require you to purchase any items or services necessary to operate your Franchised Business from a supplier that we approve or designate (each, an "Approved Supplier"), which may include us or our affiliate(s). If we choose to do so, we will provide you with a list of our Approved Suppliers in writing as part of the Manuals or otherwise in writing, and we may update or modify this list as we deem appropriate.
We may develop proprietary products for use in your Franchised Business, including private-label products that bear our Marks, and require you to purchase these items from us or our affiliate(s).
If you wish to purchase a product or service that we require you to purchase from an Approved Supplier from an alternate source, then you must obtain our prior written approval as outlined more fully in this Item. We may provide our standards and specifications for our Approved Products and Services directly to our Approved Suppliers, and may provide these standards and specifications to an alternative supplier you propose if: (i) we approve the supplier in writing as outlined more fully in this Item; and (ii) the alternative supplier agrees to sign our prescribed form of non-disclosure agreement with respect to any confidential information we disclose.
Except as provided above in this Item: (i) neither we nor any of our affiliates are an Approved Supplier for any items you are required to purchase in connection with your Franchised Business; and (ii) none of our officers own an interest in any of our Approved Suppliers other than us.
As of May 2023, we own and operate Copilot Software LLC, which is an approved (but not required) CRM provider to our franchisees. As of January 2025, we own and operate Mike Andes Media Group LLC, which is an approved (but not required) media provider to our franchisees. Other than this, neither we, nor people affiliated with us are Approved Suppliers. We reserve the right to designate us or any of our affiliates as an Approved Supplier with respect to any other item you must purchase in connection with your Franchised Business in the future.
Required Purchases and Right to Derive Revenue
There are no products or services we require you to purchase or lease from an Approved Supplier, or purchase or lease in accordance with our standards and specifications.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 17–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Augusta Lawn Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Augusta Lawn Care has the right to modify the list of approved suppliers. While Augusta Lawn Care does not currently require franchisees to purchase items or services from approved suppliers, they reserve the right to do so in the future. If Augusta Lawn Care chooses to implement an approved supplier system, they will provide a list of approved suppliers in writing and may update or modify this list as they deem appropriate.
Augusta Lawn Care may also develop proprietary products, including private-label products, and require franchisees to purchase these items from them or their affiliates. If a franchisee wishes to purchase a product or service from an alternate source that Augusta Lawn Care requires to be purchased from an approved supplier, the franchisee must obtain prior written approval.
Augusta Lawn Care may negotiate purchase arrangements with approved suppliers on behalf of the system and establish strategic alliances or preferred vendor programs. If these alliances or programs are established, Augusta Lawn Care may limit the number of approved suppliers, designate sources that franchisees must use, and refuse to approve new suppliers if it is not in the best interest of the system. Augusta Lawn Care also reserves the right to create additional purchasing cooperatives in the future and negotiate volume purchase agreements with vendors or approved suppliers.