Is Bigfoot Forestry obligated to refer National Account projects to franchisees?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may (but need not) refer you certain projects from National Account customers involving job sites located in your territory. We have no obligation to refer these projects to you and we may complete them ourselves or assign them to other franchisees, including projects involving job sites located in your territory. If you wish to accept a National Account project we refer to you, you must notify us of your acceptance within 48 hours and honor the terms of any contract we have entered into with the National Account customer (including pricing terms). We reserve the exclusive right to collect all payments made by National Account customers. If we collect payment from a National Account customer for a project completed by you, we will remit the applicable payment to you within 30 days after receipt (we may deduct any fees or other amounts you owe to us or our affiliates and remit the net proceeds to you).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bigfoot Forestry is not obligated to refer National Account projects to franchisees. While Bigfoot Forestry may choose to refer certain projects from National Account customers to franchisees, they are not required to do so. These projects would involve job sites located within the franchisee's territory. Bigfoot Forestry retains the right to complete these projects themselves or assign them to other franchisees, even if the job sites are located within a specific franchisee's territory.
If Bigfoot Forestry does refer a National Account project to a franchisee, the franchisee must notify Bigfoot Forestry of their acceptance within 48 hours. The franchisee is then obligated to honor the terms of the contract that Bigfoot Forestry has with the National Account customer, including the pricing terms.
Bigfoot Forestry maintains exclusive rights to collect all payments from National Account customers. If Bigfoot Forestry collects payment for a project completed by a franchisee, they will remit the payment to the franchisee within 30 days after receipt. However, Bigfoot Forestry may deduct any fees or other amounts that the franchisee owes to them or their affiliates before remitting the net proceeds.