What constitutes the designated Territory for a Bigfoot Forestry franchise?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ng the operating equipment and tools we designate or otherwise approve. We reserve all rights not expressly granted to you.
3. TERRITORY.
- 3.1. Designation of Territory. We hereby grant you a territory (your "Territory") that consists of, and is limited to, the geographic area described in Part E of ATTACHMENT "A". Your Territory will not change during the Term based on changes to population, the number of owner-occupied households or other demographic criteria. You may not alter or relocate your Territory. Except as otherwise provided in §3.2, you may only provide Bigfoot Forestry Services at job sites located in your Territory. Upon renewal, we reserve the right to modify your Territory in accordance with our thencurrent territory guidelines and criteria.
- 3.2. Extraterritorial Operations. You may not operate your Business or provide Bigfoot Forestry Services outside of your Territory except as otherwise permitted by this Section. With our prior approval, which we may withhold in our sole discretion, you may provide Bigfoot Forestry Services at job sites located outside your Territory but within a geographic area we approve (an "Approved Open Territory"). Under no circumstances will we approve an area that: (a) is assigned to another Bigfoot Forestry Business; or (b) is not adjacent to, and contiguous with, your Territory. If we grant our approval, you may provide Bigfoot Forestry Services at job sites located in the Approved Open Territory but only in compliance with: (a) our then-current extra-territorial operations policy, if any, described in the Manual; and (b) all other conditions and requirements that we specify.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Territory granted to a franchisee is a specific geographic area detailed in Part E of Attachment A of the agreement. This Territory remains fixed throughout the term of the agreement, irrespective of demographic changes such as population shifts or changes in the number of households. Franchisees are not permitted to alter or relocate their designated Territory.
Bigfoot Forestry franchisees are generally restricted to providing services within their Territory, with exceptions made only under specific conditions. A franchisee may seek approval to operate outside their Territory in an 'Approved Open Territory,' which must be adjacent to their existing Territory and not assigned to another franchisee. However, Bigfoot Forestry retains the right to revoke this approval at any time, requiring the franchisee to cease operations in the Approved Open Territory.
Upon renewal of the franchise agreement, Bigfoot Forestry reserves the right to modify the Territory based on its then-current guidelines. This means that while the Territory is fixed during the initial term, it could be subject to change when the franchisee seeks to renew their agreement. This clause introduces an element of uncertainty for franchisees as the market evolves and Bigfoot Forestry adapts its territorial strategy.