How often can a Deer Solution franchisee request an unaudited accounting of the Brand Development Fund?
Deer_Solution Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Brand Development Fund will be required to maintain unaudited financial records detailing its expenditures and will make available to you (no more frequently than one time in any 12 month period) an unaudited accounting of how the monies contributed to the Brand Development Fund were spent each year.
We are not required to segregate the Brand Development Fund from our general operating funds and we are not a fiduciary or trustee of the Brand Development Fund.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 29–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Deer Solution's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can request an unaudited accounting of the Brand Development Fund, but no more than one time in any 12-month period. The Brand Development Fund maintains unaudited financial records detailing its expenditures.
This means that while Deer Solution franchisees contribute to the Brand Development Fund, their access to detailed financial information about the fund's spending is limited to a single request each year. The fund itself is not required to be segregated from Deer Solution's general operating funds, and Deer Solution is not considered a fiduciary or trustee of the Brand Development Fund.
This restriction on access to financial records may impact a franchisee's ability to monitor and evaluate how their contributions are being used. While the franchisee can request an accounting, the unaudited nature of the report means there is less assurance of accuracy compared to audited financials. Franchisees should consider this limitation when evaluating the transparency and accountability of the Brand Development Fund.