What criteria does Brain Balance use for approving suppliers for franchisees?
Brain_Balance Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Although we generally do not approve alternate vendors for the above-listed goods and services, you may request our approval of an alternate supplier. You must provide us with a description of the item or service and identify the alternate supplier from whom you would like to purchase it. We have the right to require you to provide us with a sample of the item, or access to the service, at your cost, to enable us to evaluate it. We also have the right to require you to provide us with sufficient information about the proposed supplier to be able evaluate whether the supplier meets our criteria for having the capacity to meet our standards, adequate quality control, sound financial condition and business reputation, and capacity to adequately meet potential demand as a supplier. We will evaluate the proposed supplier when you have provided us with sufficient information. We will also evaluate whether it makes business sense to approve an alternate
supplier for the item or service you have identified. If we choose to, at our sole discretion, we will run the proposal past our franchisee advisory board. We will notify you within 30 days regarding whether we have approved your request for an approved supplier. There is no fee for our review.
We share the following criteria for approving suppliers with franchisees: We consider suppliers (i) who demonstrate to our continuing reasonable satisfaction the ability to meet our standards, specifications, and requirements for such items regarding quality, variety, service, safety, and health; (ii) who possess adequate quality control and capacity to supply the needs of all franchisees promptly and reliably; (iii) who are of a sound financial condition and business reputation; (iv) who will supply such items to a sufficient number of franchise owners to enable us economically to require compliance by the supplier with our standard specifications and requirements; and (v) who have been approved for such items in writing by us and not thereafter disapproved.
For goods or services for which we do not name required suppliers, you may purchase from any supplier, provided that the goods or services meet any criteria we have established. Our criteria for goods and services is listed in our Operations Manuals and may be modified by us through an update to the Operations Manuals at any time and for any reason.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 30–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brain Balance's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may request approval for alternate suppliers, although Brain Balance generally does not approve them for goods and services they already specify. To request an alternate supplier, a franchisee must provide a description of the item or service and identify the alternate supplier. Brain Balance has the right to request a sample of the item or access to the service at the franchisee's cost to evaluate it. They can also request sufficient information about the proposed supplier to evaluate if they meet Brain Balance's criteria.
Brain Balance shares specific criteria for approving suppliers with franchisees. These criteria include suppliers who demonstrate the ability to meet Brain Balance's standards, specifications, and requirements for quality, variety, service, safety, and health. Approved suppliers must also possess adequate quality control and the capacity to supply the needs of all franchisees promptly and reliably. Additionally, they need to be of sound financial condition and business reputation. The supplier must also be able to supply items to a sufficient number of franchise owners to enable Brain Balance economically to require compliance with their standard specifications and requirements. Finally, the supplier must be approved in writing by Brain Balance and not subsequently disapproved.
Brain Balance will evaluate the proposed supplier when sufficient information is provided and will also evaluate whether approving an alternate supplier makes business sense. At their sole discretion, Brain Balance may present the proposal to their franchisee advisory board. The franchisee will be notified within 30 days regarding the approval of their request, and there is no fee for the review. For goods or services where Brain Balance does not name required suppliers, franchisees can purchase from any supplier, provided the goods or services meet any criteria established in the Operations Manuals, which may be modified at any time.