Is Epcon Communities responsible for the charges incurred for the equipment or access needed to connect to the Epcon Communities Intranet?

According to the 2025 Epcon Communities Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are solely responsible for all charges associated with the equipment and access required to connect to the Epcon Communities Intranet. This includes obtaining and maintaining necessary communications equipment such as modems, computer hardware and software, and covering the costs of long-distance or local telephone service. Franchisees must also secure their own Internet service provider (ISP) to access the Intranet.

This means that prospective Epcon Communities franchisees must factor in these technology costs when assessing the overall investment required to start and operate their franchise. These costs are in addition to the initial franchise fee and other startup expenses. It is important for franchisees to budget appropriately for these ongoing expenses to ensure smooth and consistent access to the Intranet, which is essential for conducting business and exchanging information with Epcon Communities.

Epcon Communities explicitly states that any charges incurred for equipment or access to their Intranet are the franchisee's sole responsibility. This is a common practice in franchising, where franchisees typically bear the costs of their own technology infrastructure. Franchisees should carefully evaluate their technology needs and compare different providers to find the most cost-effective solutions that meet the Intranet's requirements. Failing to maintain adequate internet access and hardware could impede a franchisee's ability to utilize the resources and support offered through the Epcon Communities Intranet.