Does Bigfoot Forestry charge for all training programs?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
age-11-0">ITEM 6 OTHER FEES
| TYPE OF FEE 1 | 2, 3 AMOUNT | DUE DATE | REMARKS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater of percentage-based royalty fee (7.0% - 4.5% of Gross Sales depending on | The minimum after signing the Franchise have not opened). The minimum monthly is (a) $500 for signing and (b) $750 within higher monthly Gross Sales brackets: | royalty fee begins the 4th full month Agreement (even if you royalty fee the 4th, 5th & 6th full months after for the rest of the term. We use the following sliding scale royalty structure with a decreasing royalty rate applied to Gross Sales | ||
| Royalty Fee | bracket) or the minimum | 10th day of month | Royalty Rate | Gross Sales Bracket |
| monthly royalty fee | 7.0% 6.5% 6.0% 5.0% 4.5% You must send | $0-$50,000 $50,000.01-$75,000 $75,000.01-$100,000 $100,000.01-$125,000 $125,000.01+ us monthly Gross Sales reports. | ||
| Brand Fund Fee | Up to 3% of Gross Sales (currently 1% of Gross Sales) | Same as royalty fee | We deposit this fee into a Brand Fund. You have no voting rights pertaining to the administration of the Brand Fund, the creation or placement of advertising, or the amount of the brand fund fee. | |
| Local Marketing Commitment | Greater of 2% of Gross Sales or $1,000 per month | Monthly, as incurred | This is the minimum amount you must spend to advertise your Business in your local market (the "Local Marketing Commitment"). This amount is in addition to your brand fund fee. The $475 monthly fee you pay our designated SEO company is credited towards your Local Marketing Commitment. | |
| Cooperative Advertising Fee | Up to 2% of Gross Sales | Same as royalty fee | Company-owned outlets have the same voting power as franchised outlets in a cooperative. If a majority of outlets are company-owned, we will not increase the fee unless a majority of franchised outlets in favor of the fee increase. Cooperative advertising fees are credited against the Local Marketing Commitment. | |
| Additional Training Fee | $500 per person per day (plus Travel Expenses for onsite training) | 10 days after invoice | Payable for each person who attends: initial training after you open (e.g. new Managing Owner or Project Manager); retraining after failing a prior attempt; remedial training; or additional training you request. You must also reimburse all Travel Expenses we incur for training onsite in your territory. We do not c |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 12–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, not all training programs incur a fee. The standard additional training fee is $500 per person per day, plus reimbursement for travel expenses if the training occurs onsite. This fee applies in specific instances, such as initial training after opening for new personnel like a Managing Owner or Project Manager, retraining after a failed attempt, remedial training, or any additional training requested by the franchisee. However, Bigfoot Forestry does not charge for other training programs outside of these specific situations.
For a prospective Bigfoot Forestry franchisee, this means that while the initial and some subsequent training programs may be included, certain circumstances will require payment of the additional training fee. It is important to factor in these potential costs when budgeting for ongoing business operations and staff development. The travel expenses for onsite training can also add to the overall cost, depending on the location and duration of the training.
Franchisors often include initial training as part of the franchise fee but charge separately for additional or specialized training. Bigfoot Forestry's approach is consistent with this practice, where specific, non-standard training events are billed separately. This allows franchisees to pay only for the training they need while ensuring that Bigfoot Forestry is compensated for the resources required to provide these additional services.
Therefore, franchisees should carefully consider the potential need for additional training and the associated costs. Understanding the conditions under which the $500 per day fee and travel expenses apply is crucial for managing expenses and ensuring staff are adequately trained. Franchisees should also inquire about the content and frequency of training programs that do not incur additional fees to fully understand the training support provided by Bigfoot Forestry.