What are the criteria for Engineering For Kids to approve programs or services for some franchisees and not others?
Engineering_For_Kids Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have the right to approve some Programs, services, equipment and other items for certain franchisees and not others based on legitimate business reasons.
If you would like to offer programs or to use curriculum and related materials that we have not approved, you must submit a written request to us. The submission must include lesson plans, materials to be used and any other items as we may reasonably request to evaluate your submissions. In reviewing your request, our evaluation criteria will typically include quality of the services and products, our brand standards, customer experience, and trademark issues. We may also require modification to the proposed program and materials. If we approve a request, we may do so on a limited or test basis. We may authorize any new programs and materials for use by the entire system.
If you would like to offer or use other services or products that we have not approved or purchase from a supplier that we have not approved, you must submit a written request for approval. We have the right to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and/or test samples of the proposed products. You agree to pay us an amount not to exceed the reasonable cost of the inspection and our actual cost of testing the proposed product, including personnel and travel costs, whether or not we approve the supplier. We have the right to grant, deny, or revoke approval of programs, curriculum materials, products, services, and suppliers based solely on our judgment. We will notify you in writing of our decision as soon as practicable following our evaluation. We reserve the right to reinspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier and to revoke approval upon the supplier's failure to meet any of our then-current criteria. If you receive a notice of revocation of approval, you agree to cease purchasing products from the disapproved supplier and, in the case of revocation based on failure of products to meet our standards, you agree to dispose of your remaining inventory of the disapproved supplier's products as we direct. If a new product or service is approved, it will become our property.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES\ (FDD pages 19–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Engineering For Kids Franchise Disclosure Document, Engineering For Kids has the right to approve some programs, services, equipment, and other items for certain franchisees and not others based on legitimate business reasons. This means that while all franchisees must adhere to the System standards, Engineering For Kids retains discretion in what specific offerings are available to each franchise location. This allows Engineering For Kids to tailor its offerings based on market conditions, franchisee capabilities, or other strategic considerations.
If a franchisee wishes to offer programs or use curriculum and related materials not already approved, they must submit a written request to Engineering For Kids. This submission must include lesson plans, materials to be used, and any other items Engineering For Kids may reasonably request to evaluate the submission. The evaluation criteria typically include the quality of the services and products, adherence to brand standards, customer experience, and trademark issues. Engineering For Kids may also require modifications to the proposed program and materials. Approval may be granted on a limited or test basis, and new programs and materials may be authorized for use by the entire system.
Engineering For Kids also requires written requests for approval to offer or use other services or products that have not been approved or to purchase from a supplier that has not been approved. Engineering For Kids has the right to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and/or test samples of the proposed products, with the franchisee bearing the reasonable cost of the inspection and actual cost of testing, including personnel and travel costs, regardless of whether approval is granted. Engineering For Kids retains the right to grant, deny, or revoke approval of programs, curriculum materials, products, services, and suppliers based solely on their judgment and will notify the franchisee in writing of their decision. They also reserve the right to reinspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier and to revoke approval if the supplier fails to meet their current criteria. If approval is revoked, the franchisee must cease purchasing from the disapproved supplier and dispose of any remaining inventory as directed by Engineering For Kids. Any new product or service approved becomes the property of Engineering For Kids.
In practical terms, this means that a prospective Engineering For Kids franchisee should be prepared to work within the approved system but also has the opportunity to propose new ideas. However, approval is not guaranteed and can be subject to Engineering For Kids's sole discretion. Franchisees should factor in the potential costs and time associated with seeking approval for new programs or suppliers and understand that Engineering For Kids retains control over the offerings and resources used within the franchise system.