What is the Bigfoot Forestry franchisee's responsibility regarding the updating and upgrading of their Technology Systems?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
other Persons relating to your Business. You may not use them for any purpose unrelated to your Business. We own the email addresses and accounts but allow you to use them during the Term.
- (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. The technology fee may include a reasonable administrative fee for the time, money and resources we invest to administer the technology platform and associated components, negotiate and manage contracts with third-party licensors, and collect and remit technology fees owed to third-party licensors on behalf of franchisees under master license arrangements. The technology fee does not include amounts you pay directly to third-party suppliers. The technology fee is due 10 days after invoicing or as we otherwise specify.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for all expenses associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating, and upgrading their Technology Systems. Some Technology Systems may require direct purchase or licensing from third-party suppliers. Bigfoot Forestry, or an affiliate, may also develop proprietary Technology Systems, requiring franchisees to pay commercially reasonable licensing, support, and maintenance fees, and to sign a license agreement for these proprietary systems.
Bigfoot Forestry may enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and then charge franchisees for their use of this technology, based on the amounts Bigfoot Forestry pays to the licensors. Franchisees may also be charged a technology fee that covers all costs related to Technology Systems, including proprietary items and amounts remitted to third-party suppliers. This technology fee is subject to change depending on adjustments to the Technology Systems or changes in prices charged by third parties with whom Bigfoot Forestry has master agreements.
Bigfoot Forestry also provides franchisees with a certain number of BIGFOOT FORESTRY® email addresses at no additional charge, but may charge a fee for any additional email addresses requested. Franchisees are required to use these email addresses exclusively for all communications related to their Bigfoot Forestry Business with Bigfoot Forestry, customers, suppliers, and other relevant parties. The email addresses and accounts remain the property of Bigfoot Forestry, but franchisees are allowed to use them during the term of their Franchise Agreement.