Must Focalpoint Coaching approve Associates hired or retained by the franchisee?
Focalpoint_Coaching Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may hire or retain up to 3 employees or independent contractors (each an "Associate") to assist you with the provision of the Services to clients. Associates you hire or
retain must be approved by us and must complete our Associate training program before providing the Services to your clients. (See Item 11)
You must advertise and solicit clients for the Franchised Business only within the Territory. You may not operate the Franchised Business or provide the Services outside the Territory; however, you may provide the Services to a client outside the Territory if the client is (i) a personal acquaintance of yours, (ii) was referred to you, or (iii) resulted from your indirect marketing efforts through digital media.
Source: Item 16 — Restrictions on What the Franchisee May Sell (FDD pages 42–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focalpoint Coaching's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may hire or retain up to three employees or independent contractors, referred to as "Associates," to assist with providing services to clients. However, Focalpoint Coaching requires that all Associates must be approved by them before the Associate can provide services to clients. Furthermore, these Associates must complete Focalpoint Coaching's Associate training program before they can begin working with clients.
This requirement ensures that all individuals representing the Focalpoint Coaching brand meet the franchisor's standards and are adequately trained in their methods. This helps maintain consistency and quality across all franchised locations.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that hiring decisions are not entirely autonomous. Each potential Associate must gain approval from Focalpoint Coaching, and time and resources must be allocated for the Associate to complete the required training program. The franchisee must also pay the then current training fee (plus any applicable taxes) within 5 days of hiring or retaining an Associate for the Associate training program. This may impact staffing strategies and operational timelines.
It is common in franchising for franchisors to maintain some level of oversight over personnel, especially those directly involved in service delivery, to protect brand standards and ensure quality control. The cost of the training program should be considered when evaluating the financial implications of hiring Associates.