Does Epcon Communities assume responsibility for the franchisee's obligations by providing consulting services?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 4.1.6.1 Franchisor will provide up to fifty (50) hours of consulting services to Franchisee, if Franchisee so requests for Franchisee's Projects. Consulting services are not intended to exercise and do not constitute Franchisor's control over Franchisee's day-to-day operation of its business or the Project. By providing consulting services, Franchisor does
not assume any responsibility for Franchisee's obligations under this Agreement. Consulting services are limited to Franchisor providing recommendations to Franchisee. Consulting services may include, but not be limited to, recommendations in the areas of planning, financing, construction, and marketing.
Initial training sessions and additional training described in Section 5.12 and Section 15.2, whether mandatory or optional training, shall be included when calculating the total number of hours of consulting services provided by Franchisor. Franchisor's calculation of hours of consulting services provided to Franchisee shall be final and conclusive.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Epcon Communities does not assume responsibility for a franchisee's obligations under the Franchise Agreement through the provision of consulting services. The consulting services are limited to providing recommendations to the franchisee. These recommendations may include areas such as planning, financing, construction, and marketing.
Epcon Communities will provide up to 50 hours of consulting services to a franchisee if the franchisee requests it for their projects. The FDD states that the consulting services are not intended to exercise control over the franchisee's day-to-day operations or the project itself.
Initial training sessions and additional training described in other sections of the FDD, whether mandatory or optional, are included when calculating the total number of hours of consulting services provided by Epcon Communities. Epcon Communities' calculation of hours of consulting services provided to the franchisee is considered final and conclusive.