Does Fitstop have to provide any assistance to me before opening my franchise?
Fitstop Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
A. Pre-Opening Assistance
Except as disclosed below, we need not provide any assistance to you.
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- We will designate your Designated Territory in the Franchise Agreement prior to execution, unless the parties agree otherwise in a separate agreement (Franchise Agreement, Section 2);
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- We will provide any site selection guidelines and assistance in connection with selecting the Premises, to the extent the same has been reduced to writing in the Manuals or otherwise. We will also review, and subsequently approve/reject, any site you propose as a potential Premises as detailed more fully below in this Item. (Franchise Agreement, Section 9);
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- We will provide on-site assistance and training at your Premises (the "On-Site Assistance"), as detailed more fully in this Item below. (Franchise Agreement, Section 4);
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- We will provide you with a list of our Approved Products, Approved Services, Required Items and Approved Suppliers (to the extent we have designated the same), either as part of the Manuals or otherwise in writing. (Franchise Agreement, Section 11);
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- We will review and approve your signage, the proposed layout and design of your Premises (which must be prepared by our Approved Supplier unless we agree otherwise in writing), as well the equipment, furniture and fixtures used in connection with your Franchised Business, as we deem appropriate and advisable in our discretion. (Franchise Agreement, Sections 9, 10 and 11); and
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- We will provide our Initial Training Program to you and up to two (2) additional of your initial management (or principal) team, as disclosed more fully below under the next heading of this Item.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 24–35)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fitstop's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Fitstop is not required to provide any assistance before opening your franchise, but they do offer several forms of assistance. Fitstop will designate your territory in the Franchise Agreement, provide site selection guidelines, and review and approve your proposed site. They will also provide on-site assistance and training at your premises, give you a list of approved products, services, required items, and suppliers, and review and approve your signage, layout, and design of your premises. Additionally, Fitstop will provide an initial training program to you and up to two additional members of your initial management team.
Fitstop's initial training program includes remote classroom training, corporate training at their headquarters in California, and on-site training. Franchisees must ensure that any individual who will manage the day-to-day operations of the Franchised Business, referred to as a Designated Manager or General Manager, participates in and completes all components of the initial training program. Similarly, any personnel intended to serve as an Authorized Instructor must complete the Instructor Training program and attend all portions of the Initial On-Site Training.
However, Fitstop may require certain pre-conditions before providing Corporate Training or On-Site Initial Training. These conditions include expending required amounts on marketing and pre-opening sales activities, establishing access to your EFT Account, obtaining required insurance coverages, and providing completed copies of all agreements and contracts attached to your Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in completing the training programs, including personnel wages.
Fitstop also provides site selection assistance, including written guidelines. Franchisees are responsible for all costs associated with locating, obtaining, and developing a suitable premises. Fitstop may consider demographic characteristics, traffic patterns, competition, zoning restrictions, and the physical characteristics of the proposed site when deciding whether to approve a site. They also require the opportunity to review any lease or purchase agreement before you enter into it and may condition their approval on certain terms, such as the right to operate the Franchised Business throughout the term of the Franchise Agreement.