Who is responsible for performing environmental surveys and soils tests for a Dq Treat location?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS/SOILS TESTING--It is the sole responsibility of Licensee to perform all environmental surveys of the property, including soils tests, and ADQ expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for the environmental surveys. Soils tests shall include recommendations on building footings, foundation, and parking lot construction. It is STRONGLY recommended by ADQ that a qualified expert perform any tests prior to the purchase or lease of any property.
Source: Item 17 — The following paragraph is added to the end of Item 17 of the Disclosure Document: (FDD pages 70–378)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Dq Treat's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee (referred to as the "Licensee") is solely responsible for performing all environmental surveys and soils tests for the property of their Dq Treat location. Dq Treat expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for these environmental surveys. The soils tests should include recommendations for building footings, foundation, and parking lot construction.
Dq Treat strongly recommends that the Licensee hire a qualified expert to perform these tests before purchasing or leasing any property. This recommendation highlights the importance of conducting thorough due diligence to avoid potential environmental or structural issues that could lead to significant expenses or liabilities later on.
This allocation of responsibility is fairly standard in franchising, where franchisees typically bear the responsibility for site selection and related assessments. Prospective Dq Treat franchisees should carefully consider this requirement and factor in the cost of environmental surveys and soils testing when evaluating potential locations. Failing to conduct these tests could expose the franchisee to unforeseen risks and expenses related to environmental contamination or unstable soil conditions.