What happens to representations not specifically contained in the Bigfoot Forestry franchise agreement that were made before entering into the agreement?

According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any prior oral or written statements not explicitly included in the Franchise Agreement, ADA (if applicable), or its attachments are not binding. This means that if a Bigfoot Forestry representative makes promises or representations about the franchise opportunity that are not documented in the franchise agreement itself, those promises are not legally enforceable.

Bigfoot Forestry uses a receipt to confirm that the franchisee understands this clause. The receipt asks the franchisee to acknowledge that the franchise agreement contains the entire agreement between Bigfoot Forestry and the franchisee, and that any prior statements not included in the agreement are not binding. The receipt also asks the franchisee to disclose whether any employee or representative of Bigfoot Forestry made any statements or promises regarding costs, training, assistance, support, profits, earnings, or revenue that are not contained in the FDD or that are contrary to the information in the FDD.

This provision protects Bigfoot Forestry from claims based on verbal assurances or marketing materials that might conflict with the formal contract. However, it places the onus on the prospective franchisee to carefully review the franchise agreement and ensure that all important terms and conditions are included. It is a common practice in franchising to ensure that the written agreement supersedes any prior verbal agreements to provide clarity and legal certainty for both parties.