What is Fitstop's role in approving or disapproving a franchisee's request to make Required Purchases from suppliers other than Approved Suppliers?
Fitstop Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
We will approve or disapprove of your requests to: (i) purchase and/or offer non-approved products or services in connection with the Franchised Business; and (ii) make Required Purchases from suppliers other than our then-current Approved Suppliers.
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 will either approve or disapprove a franchisee's request to make required purchases from suppliers who are not on the list of approved suppliers. This indicates that while Fitstop provides a list of approved suppliers, franchisees have the option to seek approval for alternative suppliers.
This approval process gives Fitstop control over the supply chain and ensures that franchisees maintain consistent standards. It also allows Fitstop to monitor the quality and source of products and services used within the Fitstop franchise system.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that while they are generally required to purchase from approved suppliers, they are not entirely locked into that system. If a franchisee finds a supplier that offers better pricing or other advantages, they can request approval from Fitstop to use that supplier. However, there is no guarantee that Fitstop will approve the request.