Under what circumstances is a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee required to hire a Project Manager?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee Entity unless we waive this requirement; and (e) have binding decision-making authority on matters involving your Business. Your other Owners may be passive investors.
- 8.2. Project Manager. If you do not adhere to an owner-operator model, you must hire a Person (a "Project Manager") to manage and supervise your Business. The Project Manager must: (a) remain actively and personally involved with the operation of your Business on a full-time basis; and (b) travel to job sites for purposes of providing Bigfoot Forestry Services, managing projects and supervising Service Technicians (if any). The Managing Owner must monitor and supervise the Project Manager to ensure your Business is operated in compliance with this Agreement and the Manual. Any Person you hire as a Project Manager must: (a) be approved by us; (b) satisfy all requirements in §8.3 for Service Technicians; (c) successfully complete all additional training programs we require for a Project Manager; (d) dedicate full-time efforts to your Business; and (e) sign a Confidentiality Agreement. If you own and operate more than three (3) Bigfoot Forestry Businesses, you must hire a Project Manager. The Managing Owner or Project Manager can manage a maximum of three (3) territories. You must hire an additional Project Manager for every three (3) additional territories you open and operate.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 32–33)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is required to hire a Project Manager under specific circumstances related to their operational model and the number of territories they manage. If a franchisee does not adhere to an owner-operator model, they must hire a Project Manager to manage and supervise the business. This Project Manager must be actively involved full-time and travel to job sites to provide services, manage projects, and supervise service technicians. The Managing Owner is then responsible for monitoring and supervising the Project Manager to ensure compliance with the Franchise Agreement and Manual.
Additionally, a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee is required to hire a Project Manager if they own and operate more than three businesses. The Managing Owner or Project Manager can manage a maximum of three territories. For every three additional territories a franchisee opens and operates beyond the initial three, they must hire an additional Project Manager. This ensures that each Project Manager is responsible for no more than three territories, maintaining adequate oversight and management.
The Project Manager must meet certain qualifications, including approval by Bigfoot Forestry, fulfilling the requirements for Service Technicians, completing additional training programs, dedicating full-time efforts to the business, and signing a Confidentiality Agreement. If a Project Manager is hired, they must also serve as a Service Technician. These requirements ensure that the Project Manager is well-trained and capable of performing the necessary duties to manage the Bigfoot Forestry business effectively.
These stipulations are important for prospective franchisees to consider, as they impact the operational structure and staffing requirements of their Bigfoot Forestry franchise. Franchisees need to plan for the costs associated with hiring and training Project Managers if they do not plan to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations or if they intend to expand beyond three territories. Understanding these requirements is crucial for making informed decisions about the scale and management of their Bigfoot Forestry business.