Under what conditions can a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee be a member of the advisory council?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We may, but need not, create a franchise advisory council to provide us with suggestions to improve the System, including matters such as marketing, operations or new products or services. We would consider suggestions in good faith, but would not be bound by them. The council would be established and operated according to rules and regulations we periodically approve, including procedures governing the selection of council representatives to communicate with us on matters raised by the council. You would have the right to be a member of the council as long as you comply with your Franchise Agreement and do not act in a disruptive or abusive manner, as determined by us in our discretion. As a member, you would be entitled to all voting rights and privileges granted to other council members. Any company-owned Bigfoot Forestry Business would also be a member of the council. Each member would be granted 1 vote on all matters on which members are authorized to vote. We would have the power to form, change or dissolve the advisory council in our discretion.
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, the franchisor may, but is not required to, create a franchise advisory council. The purpose of this council would be to provide suggestions to improve the Bigfoot Forestry system, covering areas like marketing, operations, or new products and services. While Bigfoot Forestry would consider these suggestions in good faith, they are not obligated to follow them.
A franchisee has the right to be a member of the advisory council if they comply with their Franchise Agreement and do not act in a disruptive or abusive manner. The determination of what constitutes disruptive or abusive behavior is at the discretion of Bigfoot Forestry. As a member of the council, a franchisee would be entitled to all voting rights and privileges granted to other council members, with each member having one vote on matters the members are authorized to vote on. Company-owned Bigfoot Forestry businesses would also be members of the council.
Bigfoot Forestry retains the power to form, change, or dissolve the advisory council at their discretion. This means that while a franchisee may currently have the right to be a member, the council's existence and structure are not guaranteed and can be altered by the franchisor. This is a fairly typical arrangement in franchising, where the franchisor maintains control over advisory bodies while seeking franchisee input.