Who is responsible for the costs associated with attending the 'Annual System Conference' for a Deck Medic franchise?
Deck_Medic Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
one is established in any particular year, the dates, content and location of the Annual System Conference. The Annual System Conference shall be for a duration of not more than three consecutive days per calendar year. Franchisee is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with Franchisee's travel to and attendance at the Annual System Conference.
- "Approved Services and Products" shall have the meaning defined in the "Recitals" section of this Agreement and shall further refer to and mean refers to and means those products and services that Franchisor authorizes for sale by Deck Medic Businesses. Franchisor shall exclusively designate and determine the Approved Services and Products and Franchisor, in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment, may change, modify, reduce or supplement the Approved Services and Products that must be offered and sold by the Franchised Business and those products and services that may not be sold by the Franchised Business. The Operations Manual, subject to changes that Franchisor may make from time to
time and Franchisor's right to change and modify the Approved Services and Products, shall designate the Approved Services and Products that must be offered and sold by the Franchised Business. The Franchised Business may only offer and sell the Approved Services and Products.
"Assigned Area" refers to and means the operating area, designated area and/or territory of current and future Deck Medic Businesses other than the Operating Territory of Franchisee's Deck Medic Business.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–228)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Deck Medic's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for all costs and expenses associated with their travel to and attendance at the Annual System Conference. This includes travel, meals, and lodging. The Annual System Conference is a conference that may be established and organized by Deck Medic for the purpose of facilitating networking among franchisees and general education. Deck Medic determines whether or not the conference will occur in any particular year, as well as the dates, content, and location. The conference will not be more than three consecutive days per calendar year.
In addition to covering their own travel and attendance costs, Deck Medic franchisees may also be required to pay an Annual Conference Attendance Fee to Deck Medic. Even if a franchisee fails to attend the Annual System Conference, Deck Medic may still charge the Annual Conference Attendance Fee, even if Deck Medic waives the fee for franchisees who do attend. The Annual Conference Attendance Fee will not exceed $1,000 annually.
This means that a Deck Medic franchisee must budget not only for the conference attendance fee (up to $1,000), but also for all travel-related expenses if they plan to attend the Annual System Conference. Even if they choose not to attend, they may still be required to pay the attendance fee. This is a notable expense to consider when evaluating the overall cost of investing in a Deck Medic franchise.