Are Fly Fitness's criteria for approving suppliers available to franchisees?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
We approve suppliers after careful review of the quality of the products they provide to us and our franchisees. If you would like us to consider another item or supplier, you must make such request in writing to us and have the supplier give us samples of its product or service and such other information that we may require. If the item and/or supplier meets our specifications, as we determine in our sole discretion, we will approve it as an additional item or supplier. We will make a good-faith effort to notify you whether we approve or disapprove of the proposed item or supplier
within 30 days after we receive all required information to evaluate the product or service. If we do not approve any request within 30 days, it is deemed unapproved. We reserve the right to revoke approval of any item or supplier that does not continue to meet our then-current standards. Our criteria for approving items and suppliers are not available to you. If you request that we approve a proposed item or supplier, we may charge for our actual costs of product testing and evaluation.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–20)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the criteria for approving items and suppliers are not available to franchisees. Fly Fitness identifies various suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers of equipment, fixtures, inventory, and services that the Franchised Business must use, provided they meet Fly Fitness's standards and requirements. Franchisees must purchase all inventory, equipment, computer systems, and certain software from Fly Fitness's designated suppliers and contractors or in accordance with their specifications.
Fly Fitness maintains written lists of approved items of equipment, fixtures, inventory, and supplies (by brand name and/or by standards and specifications) and a list of designated suppliers and contractors for those items. These lists are updated periodically and issued to all franchisees. If a franchisee would like Fly Fitness to consider another item or supplier, they must make a written request and have the supplier provide samples and other required information. Fly Fitness will then determine, in its sole discretion, whether the item and/or supplier meets their specifications.
Fly Fitness aims to notify the franchisee of approval or disapproval within 30 days after receiving all required information. However, if no approval is given within 30 days, the request is deemed unapproved. Fly Fitness reserves the right to revoke approval of any item or supplier that does not continue to meet their standards. If a franchisee requests approval for a proposed item or supplier, Fly Fitness may charge for the actual costs of product testing and evaluation.