Do the auditors express an opinion on the effectiveness of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's internal control?

According to the 2025 FDD, the auditors do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's internal control. While the auditors obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit to design appropriate procedures, the audit's purpose is not to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control.

This means that the audit focuses on the financial statements themselves, ensuring they are free from material misstatement, rather than evaluating the systems and processes that produce those statements. The auditors' responsibilities include identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement, examining evidence related to financial statement amounts and disclosures, and evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies and estimates.

For a prospective Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee, this implies that the financial statements have been reviewed for accuracy and adherence to accounting standards, but there is no independent assessment of the internal controls that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has in place. Therefore, a franchisee may want to conduct their own due diligence into the company's internal controls and business practices.