Is acceptance of new clients subject to approval by Focus Cfo?

According to Focus Cfo's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, acceptance of new clients is subject to approval by Focus Cfo. This requirement is in place to protect Focus Cfo's system and brand. Focus Cfo will not contract with businesses that engage in activities that conflict with its ethical standards, request services outside its scope, or could harm the Focus Cfo brand.

This means a Focus Cfo franchisee cannot independently decide which clients to serve. All client contracts for CFO services must be entered into by Focus Cfo, using its standard Professional Service Agreement (PSA). The PSAs are prepared through a centralized process to ensure consistent contractual language, pricing, and terms that adhere to Focus Cfo's standards. Franchisees are responsible for coordinating the preparation and execution of these client PSAs through this centralized process and are authorized to execute the standard PSA on behalf of Focus Cfo, as long as it has been prepared and approved by Focus Cfo.

This approval process ensures that all clients align with Focus Cfo's values and service offerings, maintaining brand consistency and quality. It also protects the franchisee by ensuring they are only working with clients that Focus Cfo deems appropriate. However, it also means the franchisee must adhere to Focus Cfo's decisions regarding client acceptance, even if they disagree. Franchisees are not authorized to provide services to a prospective client until Focus Cfo has received a signed copy of the full PSA from the client. Any payments received from businesses where Focus Cfo does not have a signed PSA on file will be returned, and no payments will be made to the franchisee on these amounts.