Who typically performs the CFO Services for clients of Focus CFO?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e one equity owner who shall serve as an Area President. Franchisee shall obtain legal and tax advice with respect to this issue.
- 1.3. Franchisee's Equity Owner shall operate the Franchise as an Area President, working to generate new clients using Focus CFO's client development system and processes. Except as set forth in Section 1.4, the Area President does not perform the CFO Services for clients of Focus CFO. Rather, CFO Services will be performed by CFOs who have a non-exclusive license with Focus CFO to perform authorized CFO Services using the Focus CFO Marks to clients who have signed a Professional Services Agreement with Focus CFO.
- 1.4. If Franchisee expresses an intent to provide CFO Services, Franchisee may either: (i) perform CFO Services on a limited basis as a CFO, as set forth in Attachment B Section 1.E.i., under a separate CFO Licensing Agreement with Focus CFO while maintaining its status as an Area President under this Agreement; or (ii) terminate this Agreement and its right to operate as an Area President and apply with Focus CFO to acquire a non-exclusive license to operate as a CFO under a Focus CFO Licensing Agreement. Under this Section 1.4(ii), Focus CFO will not refund any difference, if applicable, between the Franchise Fee paid by Franchisee under this Agreement and any payment required to obtain a non-exclusive license.
- 1.5. Franchisee may, but is not required to, hire employees and/or outside contractors ("Support Resources") for administrative support without the written consent of Focus CFO. Franchisee shall obtain Focus CFO's prior written approval for the hiring of any Support Resource who is designated by Franchisee as having a "public facing role" that utilizes the Focus CFO Marks. Such approval by Focus CFO is necessary in order to protect the Focus CFO brand. Franchisee shall take full responsibility for all Support Resources Franchisee hires and shall comply with all federal, state and local employment laws and regulations. Franchisee shall require each Support Resource to execute a confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreement whereby the Support Resource acknowledges being bound to the same covenants as the Equity Owner of the Franchise under the terms of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Focus Cfo's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the CFO services for clients are generally performed by CFOs who have a non-exclusive license with Focus CFO. These licensees are authorized to perform CFO services using the Focus CFO marks to clients who have signed a Professional Services Agreement with Focus CFO.
An Area President, who is the equity owner operating the franchise, primarily focuses on generating new clients using Focus CFO's client development system. However, Area Presidents typically do not perform the CFO services themselves, with exceptions.
The FDD outlines that if a franchisee expresses an intent to provide CFO Services, the franchisee may perform CFO Services on a limited basis as a CFO, or terminate their Area President agreement and apply for a non-exclusive license to operate as a CFO. Area Presidents who have the expertise to provide CFO-level services to clients, may provide services directly as the CFO on a client account where there is no other CFO assigned. Under this provision, Area Presidents are limited to eight (8) total days a month of billable client work directly as a CFO and must apply with Focus CFO to obtain a non-exclusive license to perform CFO Services under a License Agreement.