Are Engineering For Kids franchisees allowed to offer programs or services that are not approved?
Engineering_For_Kids Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
neral Requirements**
Authorized Services and Items
At all times during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you may offer customers only the services that we have expressly authorized in writing for Businesses to offer, and in doing so you will use only the Proprietary Materials, any other curriculum materials, and standards that we have approved for use in conducting the approved services. We have the right to change the authorized Programs and other services (provided that offering educational programs in the fields of math, science, technology, and engineering will remain as "Core Programs"), and we may designate specific Programs or services as optional or mandatory. We have the right to approve some Programs, services, equipment and other items for certain franchisees and not others based on legitimate business reasons.
We may develop or approve of Programs in addition to Core Programs. These other programs may in the future be deemed to be Core Programs, in which case they will become mandatory for you to offer or operate in connection with the Franchised Business; or these Programs will remain ancillary Programs, in which case they will be optional for you to offer or operate in connection with the Franchised Business. We may limit the number of ancillary Programs you conduct at the Franchised Business in addition to the Core Programs. You must not offer any Programs or services in connection with the Franchised Business that are not approved Programs or services. We may revoke our approval of any Program, curriculum and materials, and if we do so, you will be required to discontinue further offer or use of the disapproved Programs and materials. We identify the approved Programs in our Manual and related materials (we refer to the list of approved program offerings as our "Curriculum Catalog").
Without limiting the information above that applies generally to the Programs, we have developed virtual programs as an additional method of conducting business that may be offered from time to time as we authorize. The virtual programs are not intended to be permanent replacement for in-person Programs and Engineering for Kids Businesses must resume offering in-person Programs as we require. We have the right to discontinue any or all virtual programs. We may designate some or all virtual programs as Core Programs or to make them optional.
Suppliers and Specifications in General
We have the right to require that all Proprietary Materials (which may include course materials, supplies and equipment designed and prepared according to our proprietary standards), Authorized Products (which may include other educational materials and other related products for sale to customers), and any other services, products, supplies, materials and equipment that you use in the operation of the Franchised Business or resell through your Franchised Business: (a) meet specifications that we establish from time to time; and/or (b) be purchased only from suppliers that we have expressly approved; and/or (c) be purchased only from a single source (which may include us or our affiliates or a buying cooperative that we organize). To the extent that we establish specifications, require approval of suppliers, or designate specific suppliers for particular items, we will publish our requirements in the Manual.
In connection with any items or services for which we specify designated or approved suppliers, we may require that the manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate that they possess the ability to meet our standards and specifications and adequate quality controls, and the capacity to supply your needs promptly and reliably. When considering whether to approve suppliers for the System, we may consider any other factors we consider relevant, including
factors relating to the price and quality of the products or services and the reliability of the supplier. We may approve a single supplier for any brand and may approve a supplier only as to a certain brand or brands.
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, franchisees are not allowed to offer programs or services that have not been approved by Engineering For Kids. The FDD states that franchisees must only offer services that Engineering For Kids has expressly authorized in writing and use only approved materials when conducting these services. Engineering For Kids retains the right to change authorized programs, designate programs as optional or mandatory, and approve programs for certain franchisees while not approving them for others based on legitimate business reasons.
Engineering For Kids may develop or approve programs in addition to the core programs, which may later be deemed core and become mandatory. The number of ancillary programs a franchisee can conduct may also be limited. Franchisees must discontinue offering or using programs and materials if Engineering For Kids revokes approval. The approved programs are identified in the Engineering For Kids manual and related materials, referred to as the "Curriculum Catalog."
If a franchisee wishes to offer programs or use curriculum and materials not already approved, they must submit a written request to Engineering For Kids. This submission must include lesson plans, materials, and any other items Engineering For Kids requests for evaluation. The evaluation criteria typically include the quality of services and products, brand standards, customer experience, and trademark issues. Engineering For Kids may require modifications to the proposed program and materials and may approve a request on a limited or test basis. If a new product or service is approved, it will become Engineering For Kids' property.
If a franchisee wants to offer or use other services or products that have not been approved or purchase from a supplier that has not been approved, they must submit a written request for approval. Engineering For Kids has the right to inspect the proposed supplier's facilities and/or test samples of the proposed products. The franchisee agrees to pay an amount not to exceed the reasonable cost of the inspection and Engineering For Kids' actual cost of testing the proposed product, including personnel and travel costs, whether or not Engineering For Kids approves the supplier. Engineering For Kids has 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.