What must a Degree Wellness franchisee do if they want to purchase items from an unapproved supplier?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you would like to purchase or lease any items from any unapproved supplier, then you must submit to us a written request for approval of the proposed supplier or the proposed supplier may submit its own request. We may inspect the proposed supplier's facilities, and require that product samples from the proposed supplier be delivered for testing either directly to us or any independent certified laboratory that we designate. We also may require you (or the proposed supplier requesting the evaluation) to pay us an evaluation fee (not to exceed the actual cost of the inspection and the actual cost of the test (see Item 6) to make the evaluation. We will approve or disapprove your proposed supplier within 60 days of receiving all of the information that we require for the evaluation. We reserve the right to periodically re-inspect the facilities and products or services of any approved supplier, and revoke our approval if the supplier does not continue to meet any of our criteria. Our criteria for approving suppliers are not currently available to franchisees for review.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 26–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Degree Wellness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee who wishes to purchase or lease items from a supplier not already approved by Degree Wellness must first seek approval from the company. This process begins with the franchisee submitting a written request for approval, or alternatively, the supplier themselves can submit the request.
Degree Wellness has the right to inspect the facilities of the proposed supplier. Additionally, Degree Wellness can demand product samples from the potential supplier for testing. These samples may be sent directly to Degree Wellness or to an independent certified laboratory designated by Degree Wellness. The franchisee, or the supplier requesting the evaluation, might also be required to pay an evaluation fee to cover the costs of the inspection and testing. This fee will not exceed the actual costs incurred by Degree Wellness for the evaluation.
Degree Wellness will then either approve or disapprove the proposed supplier within 60 days of receiving all necessary information for the evaluation. However, Degree Wellness retains the right to periodically re-inspect the facilities, products, or services of any approved supplier. If an approved supplier fails to continue meeting Degree Wellness's criteria, the company can revoke its approval. It is important to note that Degree Wellness's specific criteria for approving suppliers are not currently available to franchisees for review, which means a franchisee will not know the exact standards being applied.