Is a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee required to adhere to an owner-operator model?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Project Manager; and
- (i) you fulfill all of your other preopening obligations under this Agreement and the Manual.
8. MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING.
8.1. Owner Participation. You must designate an Owner with primary responsibility for the management and operation of your Business (the "Managing Owner"). We strongly recommend, but do not require, that you adhere to an owner-operator model whereby the Managing Owner: (a) remains actively and personally involved with the operation of your Business on a full-time basis; and (b) travels to job sites for purposes of providing Bigfoot Forestry Services, managing projects and supervising Service Technicians (if any). However, we do permit you to hire a Project Manager in accordance with §8.2 to assume these responsibilities from the Managing Owner. Either the Managing Owner or a Project Manager be present at each job site for purposes of providing Bigfoot Forestry Services, managing the project and supervising Service Technicians. The Managing Owner must: (a) be approved by us; (b) successfully complete all training programs we require; (c) dedicate either (i) full-time efforts to the Business (if you adhere to an owner-operator model) or (ii) commercially reasonable efforts to the Business (if you hire a Project Manager); (d) at all times own
- at least 20% of the Equity Interests in the Business or Franchisee Entity unless we waive this requirement; and (e) have binding decision-making authority on matters involving your Business. Your other Owners may be passive investors.
- 8.2. Project Manager. If you do not adhere to an owner-operator model, you must hire a Person (a "Project Manager") to manage and supervise your Business. The Project Manager must: (a) remain actively and personally involved with the operation of your Business on a full-time basis; and (b) travel to job sites for purposes of providing Bigfoot Forestry Services, managing projects and supervising Service Technicians (if any). The Managing Owner must monitor and supervise the Project Manager to ensure your Business is operated in compliance with this Agreement and the Manual. Any Person you hire as a Project Manager must: (a) be approved by us; (b) satisfy all requirements in §8.3 for Service Technicians; (c) successfully complete all additional training programs we require for a Project Manager; (d) dedicate full-time efforts to your Business; and (e) sign a Confidentiality Agreement. If you own and operate more than three (3) Bigfoot Forestry Businesses, you must hire a Project Manager.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not required to adhere to an owner-operator model. While Bigfoot Forestry strongly recommends that the Managing Owner remains actively and personally involved in the business on a full-time basis, including traveling to job sites to provide services, manage projects, and supervise service technicians, it is not mandatory.
Instead of the owner-operator model, a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee can hire a Project Manager to assume these responsibilities. However, either the Managing Owner or a Project Manager must be present at each job site to provide services, manage the project, and supervise Service Technicians. The Managing Owner must be approved by Bigfoot Forestry, complete required training programs, and dedicate either full-time efforts to the business if following the owner-operator model, or commercially reasonable efforts if a Project Manager is hired. The Managing Owner must also own at least 20% of the equity interests in the business, unless this requirement is waived, and have binding decision-making authority.
If a franchisee chooses not to adhere to the owner-operator model, they must hire a Project Manager who remains actively and personally involved in the business full-time and travels to job sites. The Managing Owner is still responsible for monitoring and supervising the Project Manager to ensure compliance with the Franchise Agreement and the Manual. The Project Manager must be approved by Bigfoot Forestry, meet the requirements for Service Technicians, complete additional training, dedicate full-time efforts to the business, and sign a Confidentiality Agreement. If a franchisee owns and operates more than three Bigfoot Forestry businesses, they are required to hire a Project Manager.