What must a Bath Tune Up franchisee do to seek approval for a substitute product?
Bath_Tune_Up Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
for purchases of the private label products purchased from us.
We approve vendors on a case by case basis after careful review of the quality of the products they provide to us and our franchisees. If you believe that you have a product which equals or exceeds the performance characteristics of any product we sell, you may seek prior written approval for the substitute product. To seek prior written approval for a substitute product, you must submit a sample of the product for testing, along with any other information that we reasonably request. We will test the product, or have the product tested, to determine whether it equals or exceeds the performance characteristics of the present products. Our criteria for approving products and the suppliers of those products are not available to you. Our approval of substitute products will not be unreasonably withheld, and you will receive our reply within 30 days after our receipt of the product sample and any reasonably requested information. You are responsible for and will be billed for any reasonable costs we incur as part of this request for testing, not to exceed $500. We can revoke our approval at any time if we determine in our sole judgment that an Approved Vendor no longer meets or exceeds our standards. You will receive 3
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 22–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bath Tune Up's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee who wishes to use a substitute product must first seek prior written approval from Bath Tune Up. To obtain this approval, the franchisee must submit a sample of the product for testing, along with any other information that Bath Tune Up reasonably requests.
Bath Tune Up will then test the product, or have it tested, to determine if it equals or exceeds the performance characteristics of the products Bath Tune Up currently uses. The FDD states that Bath Tune Up's criteria for approving products and their suppliers are not disclosed to franchisees. However, Bath Tune Up's approval of substitute products will not be unreasonably withheld, and the franchisee will receive a response within 30 days of Bath Tune Up receiving the product sample and any requested information.
The franchisee is responsible for the costs associated with testing the product, up to a maximum of $500. Bath Tune Up retains the right to revoke approval at any time if they determine that an Approved Vendor no longer meets their standards, providing 30 days' advance written notice of any such revocation.
This process highlights the importance of adhering to Bath Tune Up's standards while also providing a mechanism for franchisees to suggest potentially superior products. Franchisees should be prepared to cover the testing costs and understand that approval can be revoked if the product's quality later declines.