Is the Bigfoot Forestry franchisee responsible for the expenses of accepting various payment methods?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(f) Fees and Costs.
You are responsible for all fees, costs and expenses associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating and upgrading Technology Systems.
Certain Technology Systems must be purchased or licensed from third-party suppliers.
We and/or our affiliate may develop proprietary Technology Systems (or components thereof) that become part of our System.
If this occurs, you agree to: (i) pay us (or our affiliate) commercially reasonable licensing, support and maintenance fees; and (ii) upon request, sign our prescribed form of license agreement governing use of proprietary Technology Systems (or components thereof).
We may enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and charge you for amounts we pay them based on your use of their Third-Party Technology.
We may charge you a technology fee, which includes all amounts you pay us and our affiliates relating to Technology Systems, including amounts paid for proprietary items and amounts we collect from you and remit to suppliers of Third-Party Technology.
The technology fee may change based on changes to Technology Systems or prices charged by third parties with whom we enter into master agreements.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Bigfoot Forestry FDD discusses technology fees and costs, stating that franchisees are responsible for all fees, costs, and expenses associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating, and upgrading Technology Systems. This includes technology systems purchased or licensed from third-party suppliers. Bigfoot Forestry, or its affiliate, may develop proprietary Technology Systems, requiring franchisees to pay commercially reasonable licensing, support, and maintenance fees.
Bigfoot Forestry may enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and charge franchisees for amounts they pay them based on the franchisee's use of their Third-Party Technology. A technology fee may be charged, which includes all amounts franchisees pay to Bigfoot Forestry and its affiliates relating to Technology Systems, including amounts paid for proprietary items and amounts collected from franchisees and remitted to suppliers of Third-Party Technology. The technology fee may change based on changes to Technology Systems or prices charged by third parties with whom Bigfoot Forestry enters into master agreements.
While the FDD excerpt does not explicitly state that these technology systems include payment processing, it is common in franchising for technology fees to cover costs associated with payment processing systems and related fees. A prospective franchisee should clarify with Bigfoot Forestry whether the technology fees cover the costs associated with accepting various payment methods, such as credit card processing fees, hardware, and software for processing payments.