Does the definition of Company Owned Outlet for a Casiola business include joint ventures?

According to Casiola's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the definition of a Company Owned Outlet does include joint ventures. Specifically, a Company Owned Outlet includes any outlet operated as a joint venture partly owned by Casiola, its affiliate, or any person identified in Item 2 of the FDD. It also includes any outlet managed by those same entities.

This definition is important for prospective franchisees because financial performance representations may be provided for company-owned outlets. Understanding what constitutes a company-owned outlet helps in assessing the relevance and applicability of any financial data presented. If Casiola presents financial data from Company Owned Outlets, a franchisee can consider that data with the understanding that it might include outlets operated as joint ventures.

It is important to note that Casiola does not have any Franchise Outlets. The data provided in Item 19 is based on information reported by Casiola's affiliate for its Company Owned Outlets. The FDD specifies that the financial information provided has not been audited and is not a forecast of future financial performance. Therefore, while the inclusion of joint ventures in the definition of Company Owned Outlets provides a broader base for potential financial data, franchisees should still exercise caution and conduct their own due diligence when evaluating the provided information.