What right does Focus Cfo grant franchisees regarding CFO Services under the 'Focus CFO' name?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ise Agreement.
ITEM 13
TRADEMARKS
Focus CFO grants Franchisees the non-exclusive right to provide CFO Services under the name "Focus CFO" and use the following marks:
You may also use any other current or future trade name, trademark, service mark or logo ("Marks") that we designate for your use, including the logo on the front of this Disclosure Document, to identify yourself as a Franchisee and in connection with providing the Focus CFO services. The Marks are either owned by Focus CFO or The CFO Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Focus CFO Holdings, LLC and licensed to be used by Focus CFO and our Franchisees. The identified trademark was registered on the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") principal register on August 31, 2012 as Number 85/718,505. We have filed the necessary affidavits and renewal applications for the trademarks as required by the USPTO.
We know of no effective material determinations of the USPTO, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the trademark administrator or any state trademark administrator or any court, state or federal, involving or regarding our use of the Marks. We know of no pending infringement opposition or cancellation proceeding. We know of no pending material federal or state court litigation, regarding our use or ownership of the Marks. There are no agreements currently in effect that significantly limit our rights to use or license the use of the Marks in any manner material to the franchise. We know of no infringing or prior superior uses that could materially affect the use of the Marks in any state.
Source: Item 13 — Trademarks (FDD pages 24–25)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Focus Cfo FDD, Focus CFO grants franchisees the non-exclusive right to provide CFO Services under the "Focus CFO" name and utilize their trademarks. This allows franchisees to identify themselves as part of the Focus CFO network and offer services under the brand's established identity. However, this right is non-exclusive, meaning that Focus CFO can grant the same right to other franchisees, and franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or other channels.
Focus CFO retains ownership of all rights in the Focus CFO Marks. Franchisees are authorized to market and offer CFO Services under the Focus CFO name and use the Focus CFO Marks, but only as authorized in writing by Focus CFO. Franchisees must also notify Focus CFO immediately if they become aware of any infringement or challenge to the marks. Franchisees cannot use the Focus CFO name or any portion of the marks as part of any business entity name.
While franchisees market and offer CFO Services, they do not typically perform the CFO services themselves. Instead, CFO Services are performed by CFOs who have a non-exclusive license with Focus CFO. However, franchisees have the option to become licensed CFOs themselves under a separate agreement. Franchisees are also granted a non-exclusive geographic territory to conduct business, but this territory is not exclusive, and Focus CFO may allow multiple franchisees to operate within the same area.