Does Chocolate Fish Coffee allow franchisees to choose which approved goods and services to offer?
Chocolate_Fish_Coffee Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ter you open your business:
- A. Developing products or services you will offer to your customers. Although it is our intent and practice to refine and develop products or services that you will offer to your customers, the franchise agreement does not obligate us to do so.
- B. Hiring and training employees. We will provide you with our suggested staffing levels (Section 5.2), suggested guidelines for hiring employees (Section 5.2), and operational instructions in the Manual which you can use as part of training new employees (Secti
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 32–33)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Chocolate Fish Coffee's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, while Chocolate Fish Coffee intends to refine and develop the products and services that franchisees will offer to their customers, the franchise agreement does not obligate them to do so. Chocolate Fish Coffee will provide recommended prices for products and services. However, Chocolate Fish Coffee retains the right to determine the prices charged by franchisees for goods and services, but only to the extent permitted by applicable law.
This means that while Chocolate Fish Coffee may suggest new products or services and provide pricing recommendations, the franchisee's agreement doesn't guarantee ongoing development of new offerings. The franchisee should be prepared to implement the existing system and potentially adapt to changes dictated by Chocolate Fish Coffee.
Prospective franchisees should clarify with Chocolate Fish Coffee the extent to which they can influence the selection of goods and services offered, and how much autonomy they have in setting prices within the bounds of applicable law. Understanding these aspects is crucial for assessing the level of control a franchisee will have over their business and its offerings.