Does Bigfoot Forestry provide subjective criteria used to evaluate suppliers in writing?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Our criteria for evaluating suppliers include standards for: (a) quality, performance, design, appearance and price of the product or service; and (b) dependability, production capabilities, reputation and financial strength of the supplier. Upon request, we will provide you with any objective specifications pertaining to our evaluation of a supplier or product, although certain important subjective criteria (e.g., product appearance, design, functionality, etc.) are important to our evaluation but cannot be described in writing.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, while objective specifications for supplier evaluations are available upon request, certain subjective criteria are not provided in writing. These subjective criteria, which are important to Bigfoot Forestry's evaluation, include elements such as product appearance, design, and functionality.
This means that a prospective Bigfoot Forestry franchisee will have access to written objective standards for suppliers but will not receive written descriptions of the subjective factors that influence supplier approval. This lack of written subjective criteria introduces an element of uncertainty. A franchisee might find it more challenging to propose new suppliers or understand why a particular supplier was chosen or rejected, as the evaluation relies partly on unwritten, subjective assessments.
Franchisees need to be aware that the approval of suppliers for source-restricted items is not solely based on quantifiable metrics. The franchisor retains discretion based on factors that are not fully transparent. Therefore, when suggesting a new supplier, a franchisee should try to understand the franchisor's preferences regarding design, appearance, and functionality to increase the likelihood of approval. It would be prudent for a prospective franchisee to discuss these subjective criteria with Bigfoot Forestry during their due diligence to gain a better understanding of what is expected.
This is not uncommon in franchising, as many franchisors reserve the right to make subjective judgments about suppliers to maintain brand standards and consistency. However, the lack of transparency can be a point of concern for franchisees who prefer clear, objective guidelines.