Can Bee Organized charge a fee for reviewing a new supplier?
Bee_Organized Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you want to purchase or lease a source restricted item from a supplier that has not been previously approved or designated by us in writing, you must send us a written request for approval and submit additional information that we may request. We may charge you a supplier review and testing fee and we may request that you send us samples from the supplier for testing and documentation from the supplier for evaluation. We may also require, subject to our discretion, that we be allowed to inspect the supplier's facilities. We will notify you of our approval or disapproval within a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days, after we receive your written request for approval and all additional information and samples that we may request. We may, in our discretion, withhold our approval. When evaluating the approval of a particular supplier, among other things, we consider: whether the supplier can demonstrate to our reasonable satisfaction the ability to meet our standards, specifications and production requirements, the supplier's quality control, whether or not we are the exclusive supplier of the particular item, whether or not our affiliate or affiliates are the exclusive supplier of the particular item, and whether or not the supplier's approval, in our sole determination, will allow us to advance the overall interests of the System.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 20–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bee Organized's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wants to purchase or lease a source-restricted item from a supplier not already approved by Bee Organized, the franchisee must submit a written request for approval. Bee Organized may then request additional information and samples from the supplier for testing and evaluation.
Bee Organized has the right to charge the franchisee a supplier review and testing fee in this situation. They may also request that the franchisee send samples from the supplier for testing and documentation for evaluation. Additionally, Bee Organized may, at their discretion, inspect the supplier's facilities.
Bee Organized will notify the franchisee of their approval or disapproval within 60 days of receiving the written request, all additional information, and any requested samples. However, Bee Organized retains the discretion to withhold approval. When evaluating a supplier, Bee Organized considers factors such as the supplier's ability to meet their standards, quality control, and whether approving the supplier will advance the overall interests of the Bee Organized system. This means a franchisee could incur costs for the review process without any guarantee of approval.