Is a Focalpoint Coaching franchisee permitted to operate the Franchised Business from a residential location?
Focalpoint_Coaching Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee has applied for a franchise to own and operate a FocalPoint Franchised Business. Subject to the terms and upon the conditions contained in this Agreement, Franchisor hereby grants Franchisee a franchise (the "Franchise") to operate a FocalPoint Franchised Business (the "Franchised Business"), and to use the Franchise System in its operation and sale of Services, for a term beginning on the Effective Date and expiring seven (7) years from that date, unless sooner terminated as provided herein. Franchisee agrees that the Franchised Business will be operated from an office located at the principal business address listed on Exhibit B (the "Office"), which may not be relocated without Franchisor's prior written approval. The Office may be located in a residence. The Office must primarily be used for the operation of the Franchised Business, but Franchisee may operate businesses that are not a Competitive Business from the Office. If the office is located in a non-residential location, the lease for the Office shall contain certain provisions prescribed by Franchisor, including, without limitation, requirements that Franchisor be notified of any lease defaults by Franchisee and have the right to cure such defaults within a reasonable time and that the lease may be assigned at any time by Franchisee to Franchisor. No additional offices may be established by Franchisee without Franchisor's prior written approval. If an Office has not been approved in writing by Franchisor as of the Effective Date, Franchisee agrees to locate an Office acceptable to Franchisor and obtain Franchisor's written approval of the location within sixty (60) days following the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Franchisee must open and operate the Franchised Business within sixty (60) days following the Effective Date.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 56–57)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focalpoint Coaching's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can operate the Franchised Business from a residential location. The FDD states that the office, from which the Franchised Business will be operated, may be located in a residence.
However, the franchisee must operate the Franchised Business primarily from this office, regardless of whether it is a residential or non-residential location. The franchisee can also operate other businesses from the same office, as long as those businesses are not competitive with Focalpoint Coaching.
If the franchisee chooses a non-residential location, the lease agreement must include specific provisions that protect Focalpoint Coaching's interests. These provisions include notifying Focalpoint Coaching of any lease defaults and granting them the right to cure those defaults, as well as allowing the franchisor to assign the lease at any time. The franchisee needs to get the location approved by Focalpoint Coaching within 60 days of the effective date of the agreement and must open the Franchised Business within that same time frame.