Who determines the 'Appraised Value' of the Acquired Assets for a Bigfoot Forestry franchise?

According to the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'Appraised Value' of Acquired Assets is determined by independent appraisers. Specifically, the FDD defines "Appraised Value" as the fair market value of the assets Bigfoot Forestry wishes to purchase from the franchisee upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement.

This means that if Bigfoot Forestry exercises its option to purchase a franchisee's business and/or its assets, the valuation of those assets will not be determined unilaterally by Bigfoot Forestry. Instead, independent appraisers will assess the fair market value. This process aims to provide a more objective and unbiased valuation, which can be beneficial for the franchisee.

For a prospective Bigfoot Forestry franchisee, this definition offers some assurance that the value of their business assets will be determined by a neutral third party in the event that Bigfoot Forestry decides to purchase those assets. However, franchisees should still carefully review the criteria and qualifications for these independent appraisers to ensure they are truly independent and qualified to assess the value of the specific types of assets involved in a Bigfoot Forestry business. Franchisees may also want to seek their own independent valuation to compare with the appraised value determined by the franchisor's appraisers.