Is Care Plus Medical Ucc obligated to provide advice to franchisees who request it?
Care_Plus_Medical_Ucc Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- (a) Advice, Consulting, and Support. If Franchisee requests, Care Plus Medical UCC will provide advice to Franchisee (by telephone or electronic communication) regarding improving and developing Franchisee's business, and resolving operating problems Franchisee encounters, to the extent Care Plus Medical UCC deems reasonable. If Care Plus Medical UCC provides inperson support in response to Franchisee's request, Care Plus Medical UCC may charge its thencurrent fee plus any out-of-pocket expenses (such as travel, lodging, and meals for employees providing onsite support).
- (b) Pricing. Upon request, Care Plus Medical UCC will provide recommended prices for products and services offered by franchisees of the System.
- (c) Procedures. Care Plus Medical UCC will provide Franchisee with Care Plus Medical UCC's recommended administrative, bookkeeping, accounting, and inventory control procedures. Care Plus Medical UCC may make any such procedures part of required (and not merely recommended) System Standards.
- (d) Marketing. Care Plus Medical UCC shall manage the Marketing Fund.
- (e) Internet. Care Plus Medical UCC shall maintain a website for Care Plus Medical, which will include Franchisee's location (or territory) and telephone number.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 41)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Care Plus Medical Ucc's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Care Plus Medical Ucc will provide advice to franchisees who request it, but the extent of this advice is subject to Care Plus Medical UCC's discretion. Specifically, if a franchisee requests advice regarding improving and developing their business or resolving operating problems, Care Plus Medical UCC will provide advice by telephone or electronic communication to the extent that Care Plus Medical UCC deems reasonable.
This means that while Care Plus Medical Ucc commits to offering support, it retains the right to determine what is 'reasonable' in each situation. This could include limiting the amount of time spent on a franchisee's issue or prioritizing certain types of support requests over others. Franchisees should be aware that in-person support is not guaranteed and may incur additional costs. If Care Plus Medical UCC provides in-person support, they may charge their then-current fee plus any out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, lodging, and meals for employees providing onsite support.
In addition to advice and consulting, Care Plus Medical UCC also offers other forms of post-opening assistance. Upon request, Care Plus Medical UCC will provide recommended prices for products and services. They will also provide recommended administrative, bookkeeping, accounting, and inventory control procedures, which Care Plus Medical UCC may later make mandatory as System Standards. Care Plus Medical UCC also manages the Marketing Fund and maintains a website for Care Plus Medical, which will include the franchisee's location and telephone number.