Is an Engineering For Kids franchisee required to pay the charges of the evaluation service?
Engineering_For_Kids Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 6.10.2. We may, from time to time, designate an independent evaluation service to conduct a "mystery customer," "student survey," and/or similar type, quality-control and evaluation program with respect to Engineering for Kids Businesses. You must participate in such programs as we require, and promptly pay the then-current charges of the evaluation service. If you receive an unsatisfactory or failing report in connection with any such program, you must immediately implement any remedial actions we require and pay us all expenses we incur to have the evaluation service re-evaluate the Franchised Business (as well as all expenses we may have incurred to subsequently inspect the Franchised Business) together with any costs or incidental expenses that we incur. We also have the right to implement customer satisfaction programs and surveys, and we will have the right to charge you a fee for each customer solicited in connection with such programs.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 53–138)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engineering For Kids' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to participate in quality control programs, which may include mystery customer evaluations or student surveys conducted by an independent evaluation service designated by Engineering For Kids. The franchisee must promptly pay the charges for these evaluation services.
If an Engineering For Kids franchisee receives an unsatisfactory or failing report from the evaluation service, they must immediately take any corrective actions that Engineering For Kids requires. Additionally, the franchisee is responsible for paying all expenses that Engineering For Kids incurs to have the evaluation service re-evaluate the franchised business. The franchisee must also cover any costs or incidental expenses that Engineering For Kids incurs to subsequently inspect the franchised business.
Engineering For Kids also retains the right to implement customer satisfaction programs and surveys. If they do so, they can charge the franchisee a fee for each customer solicited in connection with these programs. This means that franchisees need to budget for not only the initial evaluation costs but also potential follow-up evaluations and customer satisfaction initiatives.