For Bigfoot Forestry, can the definition of the Development Territory be changed?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ACHMENT "A".](#page-81-0) 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. We may revoke our approval at any time, in which case you must immediately discontinue all operations within the Approved Open Territory and transfer to us or our designee any projects involving job sites located in the Approved Open Territory. Except in unusual circumstances, we do not anticipate revoking our approval unless: (a) we award the Approved Open Territory (or a portion thereof) to another Bigfoot Forestry Business; or (b) we determine, in our sole discretion, that you are not operating the Approved Open Territory in accordance with our standards and specifications.
- 3.3. Territorial Rights and Limitations. During the Term we will not develop or operate, or license a third party to develop or operate, a Bigfoot Forestry Business that provides Bigfoot Forestry Services at job sites located in your Territory except as otherwise provided in this Section with respect to
Acquisitions and National Accounts.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may not alter or relocate their territory. However, upon renewal of the franchise agreement, Bigfoot Forestry reserves the right to modify the territory based on their then-current territory guidelines and criteria.
Bigfoot Forestry may approve franchisees to provide services outside of their territory but within an "Approved Open Territory." This approval is at Bigfoot Forestry's discretion and can be withheld. The area must be adjacent to the franchisee's existing territory and not assigned to another Bigfoot Forestry business. If approved, the franchisee must comply with Bigfoot Forestry's extra-territorial operations policy and any other specified conditions. Bigfoot Forestry can revoke this approval at any time, requiring the franchisee to cease operations in the Approved Open Territory and transfer any projects there to Bigfoot Forestry or its designee.
Bigfoot Forestry will not develop, operate, or license a third party to operate a Bigfoot Forestry Business within the franchisee's territory during the term of the agreement, with some exceptions. These exceptions include acquisitions and national accounts, where Bigfoot Forestry reserves the right to engage in acquisitions, even if they result in competitive businesses operating within the franchisee's territory. Bigfoot Forestry also retains the exclusive right to contract with national account customers, even for services within the franchisee's territory. Additionally, Bigfoot Forestry can sell or license others to sell competitive goods and services within the franchisee's territory through alternative channels of distribution.