Who determines the equipment and technology updates required for a Crawlspace Medic franchise?
Crawlspace_Medic Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
5.2.4 Franchisee shall have completed any required updates to the Franchised Business location in order to meet system standards.
12.3.5. Franchisee shall have and maintain adequate hardware and software in order to access the Internet at the speed required by Franchisor from time to time. Franchisee shall utilize the electronic mail account provided by Franchisor. Franchisee shall promptly read and respond to all electronic mail related to the Franchised Business no less often than on a daily basis and shall accept and acknowledge receipt of all electronic mail sent by Franchisor. Franchisee shall not establish any website or other listing on the Internet except as provided and specifically permitted herein.
12.3.7. Franchisee shall pay all fees and expenses for technology required by this Agreement, including but not limited to, the costs of computer hardware and software, regularly recurring fees for software and Internet access, license fees, help desk fees, licensing or user-based fees for a franchise portal or a benchmarking platform. Currently this fee is 0.5% of Gross Revenue per unit per month.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 42)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Crawlspace Medic's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor determines the required equipment and technology updates. Specifically, franchisees must complete any updates to their franchised business location to meet system standards. This implies that Crawlspace Medic sets these standards and franchisees are obligated to adhere to them.
Crawlspace Medic also requires franchisees to maintain adequate hardware and software to access the internet at the speed they require. Franchisees must use the electronic mail account provided by Crawlspace Medic and promptly respond to all emails related to the franchised business on a daily basis. Franchisees are restricted from establishing any website or internet listing unless specifically permitted by the agreement.
Furthermore, franchisees are responsible for paying all fees and expenses for technology required by the agreement. This includes costs for computer hardware and software, recurring fees for software and internet access, license fees, help desk fees, and licensing or user-based fees for a franchise portal or benchmarking platform. Currently, this fee is 0.5% of Gross Revenue per unit per month. This ensures that Crawlspace Medic franchisees stay aligned with the brand's technological standards, but it also means they must budget for ongoing technology-related expenses.
In summary, Crawlspace Medic retains control over technology and equipment standards, ensuring uniformity across all franchise locations. While this helps maintain brand consistency and service quality, it also places the financial burden of updates and technology maintenance on the franchisee.