What items currently require franchisees to purchase from Bft's approved suppliers?
Bft Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Currently, we have Approved Suppliers for the following items that you must purchase in connection with the establishment and/or operation of your Studio: (i) Pre-Sales and Soft Opening Retail Inventory Kit, as well as
certain other ongoing inventory items; (ii) the Fitness Equipment & Initial FF&E Package; (iii) the Pre-Opening Instructor Training that your instructors must complete to become Authorized Instructors (and related materials); (iv) certain other exercise equipment/supplies; (v) Audio / Visual Package; (vi) insurance coverage (subject to applicable law where the Studio is located); (vii) shipping and installation services; (viii) training materials associated with the Fundamentals Training Program and the Pre-Opening Instructor Training; and (ix) the POS System and then-current software we require you to use in connection with that POS System and your Studio, including, without limitation, any software and technology we determine to provide to you as part of our System in connection with your then-current Technology Fee.
We may develop proprietary products for use in your Studio, 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 Approved 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.
As of the date of this Disclosure Document: (i) other than the Pre-Sales and Soft Opening Retail Inventory Kit, the technology services we provide in exchange for our then-current Technology Fee, and certain services that XPS provides, such as custom millwork, cabinets, tables, display cases, engraved wood signs, point of sale displays, custom acrylic panels, and other similar products, neither we nor any of our affiliates are an Approved Supplier for any items you are required to purchase in connection with your Studio as part of our standard Franchise offering; and (ii) none of our officers own an interest in any of our Approved Suppliers other than us.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 32–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bft Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase specific items from approved suppliers for the establishment and operation of their studio. These include the Pre-Sales and Soft Opening Retail Inventory Kit, certain other ongoing inventory items, the Fitness Equipment & Initial FF&E Package, and the Pre-Opening Instructor Training (including related materials) that instructors must complete to become authorized. Additionally, franchisees must purchase certain other exercise equipment/supplies, the Audio/Visual Package, insurance coverage (subject to applicable law), shipping and installation services, training materials associated with the Fundamentals Training Program and the Pre-Opening Instructor Training, and the POS System with its current software, including any technology provided as part of the Technology Fee.
Bft may also develop proprietary products, including private-label items bearing their marks, which franchisees would be required to purchase from Bft or its affiliates. Franchisees have the option to request approval to purchase required items from an alternative supplier, but this requires written approval from Bft and may involve evaluation fees and cost coverage. Bft may provide standards and specifications for approved products and services to approved suppliers and potentially to alternative suppliers who agree to a non-disclosure agreement.
It is important to note that as of the date of the 2025 Disclosure Document, neither Bft nor its affiliates are approved suppliers for any required items other than the Pre-Sales and Soft Opening Retail Inventory Kit, the technology services provided in exchange for the Technology Fee, and certain services provided by XPS. This means franchisees have limited direct purchasing requirements from Bft itself, but must still adhere to the approved supplier list for a range of essential studio items. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these required purchases and the potential impact on their overall investment and operating costs.