What is the Bigfoot Forestry franchisee's responsibility regarding the licensing of their Technology Systems?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for all aspects of acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating, and upgrading the Technology Systems required for their business. This includes all associated fees, costs, and expenses. Some Technology Systems may need to be purchased or licensed from third-party suppliers. Bigfoot Forestry, or its affiliate, may also develop proprietary Technology Systems, in which case the franchisee must pay commercially reasonable licensing, support, and maintenance fees and sign a license agreement.
Bigfoot Forestry may enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and charge the franchisee for the amounts they pay based on the franchisee's use of the technology. The franchisor may also charge a technology fee that includes all amounts the franchisee pays to Bigfoot Forestry and its affiliates related to Technology Systems, including amounts paid for proprietary items and amounts collected and remitted to suppliers of Third-Party Technology. This technology fee is subject to change based on modifications to the Technology Systems or price changes implemented by third parties with whom Bigfoot Forestry has master agreements.
In practical terms, this means a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee needs to budget not only for the initial costs of setting up the required technology but also for ongoing expenses related to licensing, support, maintenance, and upgrades. The franchisee should also be prepared for potential increases in these costs if Bigfoot Forestry updates its technology or if third-party vendors raise their prices. It is important for prospective franchisees to fully understand the Technology Systems required, the associated costs, and the potential for these costs to change over time.