What standards and specifications has Degree Wellness developed for Studio leasehold improvements?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
(see Item 14).
Approved Products, Distributors and Suppliers
We have developed standards and specifications for the leasehold improvements of your Studio, the equipment and materials used to perform services at your Studio, and products authorized for sale at your Studio. We have approved, and will continue to periodically approve, specifications and/or suppliers and distributors of the above items, services and products, which may include us or our affiliates, that meet our standards and requirements. These specifications include standards and requirements relating to product quality, prices, consistency, reliability, financial capability, labor relations and customer relations. You must (1) purchase products for sale by your Studio in the quantities we designate; (2) use those formats, formulae, and containers for products that we prescribe; and (3) purchase all products, services and other materials only from distributors and other suppliers we have approved.
We may approve a single distributor or other supplier (collectively, "supplier") for any product or service, and may approve a supplier only as to certain products or services. We may concentrate purchases with one or more suppliers to obtain lower prices or the best advertising support or services for any group of Studios franchised or operated by us. Our approval of a supplier may be conditioned on requirements relating to the frequency of delivery, concentration of purchases, standards of service (including prompt attention to complaints), and other similar criteria, and may be temporary, pending our continued evaluation of the supplier.
You are required to use our designated supplier for site selection assistance and construction project management. You must acquire a site for your Studio that meets our site selection criteria and that we approve. If you occupy the Studio according to a commercial lease, the lease must contain terms that we specify.
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.
Degree Wellness and Our Affiliates as Approved Suppliers
If you, or one of your owners, cannot legally provide services to your Franchised Business then you must contract with our designated supplier to provide medical director services.
We are currently not an approved supplier for any other product, service, or equipment. We reserve the right to designate us and/or our affiliates as approved suppliers, or the exclusive
supplier(s), from whom you may purchase or lease certain other categories of products, services, and equipment.
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, Degree Wellness has developed standards and specifications for the leasehold improvements of your Studio. These specifications are detailed in the Operations Manual, which includes standards for appearance, delivery, performance, quality control, and design. Franchisees must adhere to these specifications when leasing or purchasing their Studio location and leasehold improvements. Degree Wellness also requires franchisees to use designated suppliers for site selection assistance and construction project management.
Prospective Degree Wellness franchisees must acquire a site that meets the franchisor's site selection criteria, and any commercial lease must contain terms specified by Degree Wellness. If a franchisee wishes to use an unapproved supplier, they must submit a written request for approval, potentially incurring an evaluation fee to cover inspection and testing costs. Degree Wellness will then approve or disapprove the proposed supplier within 60 days of receiving all required information.
Degree Wellness reserves the right to periodically re-inspect approved suppliers and revoke approval if they no longer meet the franchisor's criteria. However, the specific criteria for approving suppliers are not currently available to franchisees for review. This means franchisees need to rely on Degree Wellness's judgment without knowing the exact standards being applied. Degree Wellness estimates that expenditures related to approved suppliers will represent approximately 50% of the total costs associated with establishing and operating a Degree Wellness franchise.