Can Bigfoot Forestry be an exclusive designated supplier for certain goods and services?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
tricted Purchases and Leases - Generally**
You must purchase or lease certain source-restricted goods and services for the development and operation of your Business. "Source-restricted" means the good or service must meet our specifications and/or must be purchased from an approved or designated supplier (in some cases, an exclusive designated supplier, which may be us or an affiliate). The Manual includes our specifications and supplier list. We notify you of changes to our specifications and suppliers by email, updates to the Manual or other means of communication.
Supplier Criteria
Our criteria for evaluating suppliers include standards for: (a) quality, performance, design, appearance and price of the product or service; and (b) dependability, production capabilities, reputation and financial strength of the supplier. Upon request, we will provide you with any objective specifications pertaining to our evaluation of a supplier or product, although certain important subjective criteria (e.g., product appearance, design, functionality, etc.) are important to our evaluation but cannot be described in writing.
If you wish to purchase or lease a source-restricted item from a non-approved supplier, you must send us: (a) a written request for approval; (b)
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company can act as an exclusive designated supplier for certain goods and services. The FDD specifies that "Source-restricted" goods or services must meet Bigfoot Forestry's specifications and/or be purchased from an approved or designated supplier, which can include an exclusive designated supplier, potentially Bigfoot Forestry itself or an affiliate.
Currently, Bigfoot Forestry is the exclusive supplier of technology support provided in exchange for the technology fee and Microsoft 365 accounts, which they sublicense from a third party. Furthermore, the document states, "We may designate ourselves or an affiliate as an approved or designated supplier for other goods or services in the future. We and our affiliate may generate a profit from these purchases." This indicates that Bigfoot Forestry retains the right to become the sole supplier for additional items, creating a potential revenue stream for the company and its affiliates through franchisee purchases.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that a significant portion of their required purchases, estimated between 75% and 95% of total startup and operating costs, will be source-restricted. While some items can be purchased from any supplier meeting Bigfoot Forestry's standards, others must be acquired from approved or designated suppliers, including potentially Bigfoot Forestry or its affiliates exclusively. This could impact a franchisee's costs and sourcing options, as they may be limited to specific suppliers chosen by Bigfoot Forestry.
It is important to note that Bigfoot Forestry's affiliate, ACAE, is the exclusive designated supplier for all items included in the Equipment Package and the Startup Package. If additional equipment or tools are needed after opening, franchisees must purchase them exclusively from ACAE. The Chief Executive Officer of Bigfoot Forestry, Benjamin Bartnikowski, owns an interest in ACAE, which means he benefits financially from these required purchases. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these exclusive supply arrangements and their potential impact on their business operations and profitability.