Is a Healthsource Chiropractic franchisee permitted to provide chiropractic care or other professional services requiring licensing or certification?
Healthsource_Chiropractic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchised Business"). You may purchase and operate your Franchise as a new, start-up Clinic (a "Start-up Clinic"), or may convert an existing chiropractic practice to a HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic (a "Conversion Clinic").
- c. In certain cases, where permitted by law, we may offer franchises to persons or legal entities that meet our qualifications but are not licensed to practice or provide chiropractic care, and are willing to undertake the investment and effort to own and operate a business that will manage a Start-Up or Conversion Clinic under the System; we refer to these businesses as "Clinic Management Businesses." For example, certain states do not permit non-licensed persons to own and/or operate chiropractic practices, but some states do. In states that do not permit non-licensed persons to own or operate chiropractic practices, a Clinic Management Business may be offered. In states that do permit non-licensed persons to own and operate chiropractic practices, a Clinic Management Business Franchise is not necessary, but may be offered by us under certain circumstances.
As further described below, to operate a Clinic Management Business, you must enter into a Franchise Agreement with us and a Management Agreement with a "PC" that will own and operate the Clinic. A "PC" will be one or more licensed individuals, or a professional corporation or similar entity, such as a professional limited liability company, that is duly authorized to provide chiropractic services under local and state laws. In such an arrangement:
- You, as franchisee, will construct or build-out the Clinic for use by the PC.
- The Clinic business will be operated by the PC using the HealthSource name and Marks.
- In addition to signing the Franchise Agreement with us, before you begin operating the Clinic Management Business, you must enter into a management agreement
("Management Agreement") with the PC. If permitted by state and local law, the PC may be the same entity as your franchisee entity or have the same owners. Under the Management Agreement, you will provide the PC with management and administrative services and support consistent with the System to support the PC's chiropractic practice and its delivery of chiropractic services and related services and products to patients at a Clinic, consistent with all applicable laws and regulations. Our Franchise Disclosure Document contains a general form of Management Agreement as an exhibit that can serve as a starting point for satisfying this requirement, but the actual Management Agreement to be used must be approved by us, in our discretion, and must satisfy all requirements and limitations of applicable laws, rules and regulations of the state in which the Clinic will be located.
- You must obtain our written approval of the final Management Agreement prior to signing it with the PC. We may provide you with assistance in preparing the Management Agreement, but you are responsible for determining whether such agreement is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the state in which the Clinic is located. You must have a Management Agreement in effect with a PC at all times during the operation of the Franchised Business and the Initial Term of this Agreement.
- We must approve the PC and its owners, but you are responsible for ensuring that the PC is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the state in which the Clinic is located.
- The PC will employ and control the chiropractors, physical therapists and other personnel who will provide the actual chiropractic and related services required to be delivered at and through the Clinic. You may not provide any actual chiropractic care or any other professional services that require licensing or certification, nor will you supervise, direct, control or try to influence the exercise of professional and/or medical judgment, treatment protocols, employee decisions, clinical advice, clinical training, clinical chiropractic care or relationships with patients, by the PC or any of its employees or agents.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 77–282)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Healthsource Chiropractic Franchise Agreement, the ability of a franchisee to provide chiropractic care or other professional services requiring licensing or certification depends on whether they are operating a standard franchise or a Clinic Management Business. In certain states where permitted by law, Healthsource Chiropractic may offer franchises to individuals or entities that are not licensed to practice chiropractic care, provided they are willing to invest in and manage a Clinic Management Business.
For Clinic Management Businesses, the franchisee's role involves constructing or building out the clinic, while the actual chiropractic services are provided by a separate entity known as a "PC" (Professional Corporation) that is duly authorized to provide chiropractic services under local and state laws. The PC operates the clinic using the Healthsource Chiropractic name and marks, and the franchisee must enter into a management agreement with the PC.
For standard Healthsource Chiropractic franchises, the franchisee is responsible for either providing all products and services themselves or hiring chiropractors and clinical staff who are licensed to provide chiropractic, physical therapy, and related services. The franchisee must ensure that all employees and independent contractors have the necessary licenses required by law. Healthsource Chiropractic also retains the right to modify the franchise program, which may require the franchisee's general manager or employees to obtain additional licenses or certifications.