When can a Focus Cfo franchisee begin working directly for a client that hired them?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Further, Franchisee agrees that if Franchisee accepts such an offer with any Focus CFO client, Franchisee is not authorized to begin working directly for the client until either Franchisee or the Focus CFO client, pay directly to Focus CFO the termination fee which is set forth in the professional service agreement with the Focus CFO client.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focus Cfo's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee can begin working directly for a client that they met through Focus Cfo once a termination fee is paid. Specifically, either the franchisee or the Focus Cfo client must pay the termination fee directly to Focus Cfo. This fee is outlined in the professional service agreement between Focus Cfo and the client.
This policy ensures that Focus Cfo is compensated for the business it brought to the franchisee before the franchisee and client establish a direct working relationship. It also protects Focus Cfo's interests by preventing franchisees from immediately leaving the system and taking clients with them without providing any compensation to Focus Cfo for the initial business development efforts.
It is important for prospective franchisees to carefully review the professional service agreement to understand the amount of the termination fee. Franchisees should also consider the potential implications of this policy when building relationships with clients and when considering any potential employment offers from those clients. This policy is not uncommon in franchise systems where the franchisor plays a significant role in client acquisition.