What is the maximum number of hours of consulting services that Epcon Communities will provide to a franchisee?
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.
- 4.1.6.2 Consulting services will be provided to Franchisee either, at Franchisor's discretion, at the corporate offices of Franchisor, by telephone, virtual meeting, or at Franchisee's place(s) of business.
If held at Franchisee's place(s) of business, Franchisee is responsible for all travel, lodging, meal and incidental expenses of any consultant of Franchisor providing such consulting services to Franchisee.
Franchisor reserves the right to charge Franchisee a reasonable fee for some or all consulting services provided by Franchisor.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may receive up to 50 hours of consulting services. These services, if requested by the franchisee for their projects, are intended to provide recommendations in areas such as planning, financing, construction, and marketing. However, these consulting services do not give Epcon Communities control over the franchisee's daily business operations or project management.
These consulting services can be provided at Epcon Communities' corporate offices, or alternatively, via telephone, virtual meeting, or at the franchisee's business location, depending on Epcon Communities' discretion. If the consulting takes place at the franchisee's location, the franchisee is responsible for covering all travel, lodging, meal, and incidental expenses incurred by Epcon Communities' consultant.
It's important to note that Epcon Communities reserves the right to charge a reasonable fee for any consulting services they provide. Furthermore, the hours spent during initial and additional training sessions, whether mandatory or optional, are included when calculating the total consulting hours provided. Epcon Communities' calculation of the consulting hours is considered final and conclusive. This means franchisees should be mindful of how consulting time is used, as it is capped and can potentially incur additional costs.