As of December 31, 2024, were there any advertising cooperatives in effect for Bigfoot Forestry?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may, but need not, establish regional advertising cooperatives for purposes of pooling advertising funds to be used in discrete regions. We will determine the boundaries of the cooperative. In most instances, the boundaries will coincide with zip codes, designated marketing areas or municipal boundaries. We will specify the manner in which the cooperative is organized and governed. We may choose between: (a) administering the cooperative ourselves; or (b) establishing an advertising council, comprised by the cooperative's members, to administer the cooperative. We may require that the cooperative be administered in accordance with written bylaws, organizational documents or other governing documents that we approve. There were no advertising cooperatives in effect as of December 31, 2024.
If your Business is located in a region subject to an advertising cooperative you must: (a) participate in the cooperative according to its rules and procedures and abide by its decisions; and (b) pay a cooperative advertising fee. We may set the minimum cooperative advertising fee or we may allow the cooperative to set the fee based on majority vote of its members. In either case, the fee will not exceed 2% of Gross Sales. All cooperative advertising fees you pay are credited against your Local Marketing Commitment. Any companyowned Bigfoot Forestry Business located in the cooperative will contribute on the same basis as franchisees.
Advertising cooperatives are not required to prepare annual or periodic financial statements. Any financial statements that are prepared will be made available to you upon request. We reserve the right to form, change, merge or terminate advertising cooperatives at any time.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Bigfoot Forestry did not have any advertising cooperatives in effect as of December 31, 2024. However, Bigfoot Forestry retains the option to establish regional advertising cooperatives in the future for the purpose of pooling advertising funds within specific regions. These regions will be determined by Bigfoot Forestry, often coinciding with zip codes, designated marketing areas, or municipal boundaries.
If a franchisee's Bigfoot Forestry business is located within a region subject to an advertising cooperative, participation is mandatory. This includes adhering to the cooperative's rules and procedures, abiding by its decisions, and paying a cooperative advertising fee. The fee, which may be set by Bigfoot Forestry or by a majority vote of the cooperative's members, will not exceed 2% of gross sales. Any cooperative advertising fees paid are credited against the franchisee's local marketing commitment. Company-owned Bigfoot Forestry businesses within the cooperative will contribute on the same basis as franchisees.
Bigfoot Forestry reserves the right to form, change, merge, or terminate advertising cooperatives at any time. While advertising cooperatives are not required to prepare annual or periodic financial statements, any financial statements that are prepared will be made available to franchisees upon request. This structure allows Bigfoot Forestry flexibility in managing advertising efforts and potentially leveraging pooled resources for regional marketing initiatives.