What is the relationship between Focus Cfo franchisees and licensees regarding CFO Services?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Business
Franchisees are independent contractors of Focus CFO. As a Franchisee of Focus CFO, you will operate your franchised business as an Area President, working to generate new clients for Focus CFO utilizing our client development system. Area Presidents' franchised businesses will focus on operating as business development leaders and serve as strategic relationship managers, matching Focus CFO clients with licensees of Focus CFO, referred to as CFOs. Note that some of the CFOs who you will work with are operating as franchisees of Focus CFO who signed franchise agreements with Focus CFO prior to 2023. As our system has evolved, we no longer offer franchise opportunities to individuals wishing to operate as a CFO. Rather, those individuals are independent contractors who have a license to use the Focus CFO Marks and other resources provided by Focus CFO.
Products and Services
Franchisees will market and offer CFO Services primarily to small and medium-sized businesses on a fractional or part-time basis. This includes offering businesses onsite or remote financial and operational support in the area of finance and operations, controller-level accounting and support services, business consulting or coaching, business value growth or exit planning services. The CFO Services that Franchisees will offer will be performed by qualified CFOs who have obtained a non-exclusive license (or prior to 2023, purchased a franchise) from Focus CFO to provide such services.
Market and Competition
The target market for your franchised business are small-to-medium-sized businesses who do not employ a full-time CFO. We believe it is a well-developed market as the competition for the franchised services will come from individuals and other businesses performing the same or similar financial consulting services. This may include other fractional CFO firms (which may include other franchise systems) and business consulting firms.
Clients
Franchisees service a group of clients that are developed by the efforts of Focus CFO, the Focus CFO System, Area Presidents, CFOs, and the use of the Focus CFO Marks.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 6–8)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focus Cfo's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees operate as Area Presidents, focusing on business development and strategic relationship management to connect clients with CFOs. These CFOs are licensees of Focus Cfo, or in some cases, franchisees who signed agreements before 2023. Focus Cfo no longer offers franchise opportunities for individuals wanting to operate specifically as CFOs; instead, they are independent contractors licensed to use Focus Cfo's resources.
Focus Cfo franchisees market CFO Services to small and medium-sized businesses, offering financial and operational support. These services are delivered by qualified CFOs who have a non-exclusive license (or, prior to 2023, a franchise) from Focus Cfo. Franchisees are paid as independent contractors based on the fees generated from CFO Services performed by both franchisees and licensees for Focus Cfo clients.
This system means that Focus Cfo franchisees primarily focus on sales and client management, while the licensed CFOs deliver the actual financial services. The success of a franchisee depends on their ability to implement the Focus Cfo system, meet client needs, develop new clients, and effectively collaborate with CFOs in their area. Focus Cfo approves all clients to ensure they align with the brand's quality standards.