When is the initial franchise fee for Bigfoot Forestry due?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 4.3. Franchise Agreements. You must sign a separate Franchise Agreement for each Bigfoot Forestry Business. You must sign the Initial Franchise Agreement for your first (1st) Bigfoot Forestry Business at the time you sign this Agreement. Each Franchise Agreement shall be our then-current form of Bigfoot Forestry Franchise Agreement, the terms of which may vary materially and substantially from the terms of the Initial Franchise Agreement; provided, however, that the initial franchise fee imposed under each Franchise Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the
table set forth in Part B of ATTACHMENT "A". Your payment of the development fee pursuant to §5 shall be deemed to include and satisfy the initial franchise fee imposed under each Franchise Agreement you sign pursuant to this Agreement. Unless we agree otherwise, you may not provide Bigfoot Forestry Services in a given Franchised Territory before the parties sign a Franchise Agreement for that Franchised Territory. You must develop, open and operate each Bigfoot Forestry Business in compliance with the Franchise Agreement and the Manual.
FRANCHISEE DISCLOSURE QUESTIONNAIRE
As you know Bigfoot Franchising, LLC ("we" or "us), and you are preparing to enter into a Franchise Agreement for the operation of a Bigfoot Forestry franchise. We require that you complete this Questionnaire (a) so that we can determine whether our franchise sales team followed proper sales procedures and (b) to provide us with reasonable assurance that, prior to signing the Franchise Agreement, you have had an adequate opportunity to review the Franchise Disclosure Document and its attachments, consult with legal and/or business advisors of your choosing, and ask us questions about any disclosures or terms that you do not understand. You cannot sign or date this Questionnaire the same day as the Receipt for the Franchise Disclosure Document but you must sign and date it the same day you sign the Franchise Agreement and pay your franchise fee. Please review each of the following questions carefully and provide honest responses to each question.
- 5. DEVELOPMENT FEE. At the time you sign this Agreement you must pay us a development fee in the amount set forth in Part B of ATTACHMENT "A" which is calculated as the aggregate sum of the initial franchise fees imposed for all Bigfoot Forestry Businesses you are required to develop pursuant to this Agreement. The development fee is fully earned and nonrefundable upon execution of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee is due at the time the franchisee signs the Franchise Agreement. Specifically, if the franchisee is signing an area development agreement, they must sign the Initial Franchise Agreement for their first Bigfoot Forestry Business at the time they sign the Area Development Agreement. The payment of the development fee pursuant to Section 5 of the agreement is deemed to include and satisfy the initial franchise fee imposed under each Franchise Agreement the franchisee signs pursuant to the Area Development Agreement.
For a single-unit franchise agreement, the Franchisee Disclosure Questionnaire indicates that the questionnaire must be signed and dated the same day the franchisee signs the Franchise Agreement and pays the franchise fee. This implies that the franchise fee is due upon signing the Franchise Agreement.
Prospective Bigfoot Forestry franchisees should note that the initial franchise fee is nonrefundable once paid. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence and seek professional advice before signing the Franchise Agreement and remitting the initial franchise fee.