Can Bigfoot Forestry independently access a franchisee's 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)
Based on the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor may have access to a franchisee's technology systems. The FDD states that Bigfoot Forestry may develop proprietary Technology Systems (or components thereof) that become part of their System. If this occurs, the franchisee agrees to pay commercially reasonable licensing, support, and maintenance fees to Bigfoot Forestry or its affiliate.
Bigfoot Forestry may also enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and charge the franchisee for amounts they pay them based on the franchisee's use of their Third-Party Technology. The franchisee is responsible for all fees, costs, and expenses associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating, and upgrading Technology Systems.
Furthermore, Bigfoot Forestry will provide a certain number of BIGFOOT FORESTRY® email addresses at no additional charge, which the franchisee must exclusively use for all communications related to the business. Bigfoot Forestry owns these email addresses and accounts but allows the franchisee to use them during the term of the agreement. This level of control and the potential for proprietary systems suggests that Bigfoot Forestry could have access to and oversight of the franchisee's technology systems.