Does the Deer Solution FDD include statements of retained earnings?
Deer_Solution Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In preparing the financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about Deer Solution Franchising, LLC's ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the financial statements.
In performing an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, we:
- Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of Deer Solution Franchising, LLC's internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements.
- Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about Deer Solution Franchising, LLC's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
Source: Item 21 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (FDD page 54)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Deer Solution Franchise Disclosure Document excerpts, it is not possible to determine whether the FDD includes statements of retained earnings. While Item 23 includes financial statements and notes, the excerpts do not specifically mention or list a statement of retained earnings. The excerpts focus on the responsibilities of the auditor, the company's nature of operations, and significant accounting policies. To determine if a statement of retained earnings is included, a prospective franchisee should review the full Item 23 in the FDD.
It is common practice for franchisors to include a balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and statement of retained earnings (or statement of changes in equity) in their FDDs. These statements provide a comprehensive view of the franchisor's financial performance and position. The absence of a specific mention in the excerpts does not confirm its exclusion, but warrants further investigation.
A prospective Deer Solution franchisee should confirm whether the full Item 23 includes a statement of retained earnings. If it is not included, they should ask Deer Solution's management to provide this statement to gain a better understanding of the company's profitability and how profits are reinvested or distributed.