Does Healthsource Chiropractic pay the third-party providers for website services directly?
Healthsource_Chiropractic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- c. Additionally, you are required to pay the monthly Technology Fee, defined and discussed in Section 11.4, for certain Website and technology-related services and expenses and any fees relating to the required human resources and payroll services discussed in Section 10.7.
b. Software. We may, at any time and from time to time, contract with one or more software providers, business service providers, or other third parties (individually, a "Service Provider") to develop, license, or otherwise provide to or for the use and benefit of you and other HealthSource Chiropractic Franchises certain software, software applications, and software maintenance and support services related to the Computer System that you must or may use in accordance with our instructions with respect to your Computer System. Any such agreement between us and a Service Provider (a "Master Service Agreement") may, but need not, address such matters as the types of products and services to be provided (or not to be provided) to you or for your benefit as a HealthSource Chiropractic Franchise, the manner and timing in which such products and services may be provided, software licensing issues and restrictions, the permitted or non-permitted uses of any product or service provided under the Master Service Agreement, and the provision and pricing of supplemental products or services available from or through the Service Provider. You acknowledge and agree that we may reasonably require you to sign a support or service agreement with us or a third party Service Provider setting forth, among other things, requirements relating to the installation of any such products or services, licensure of and/or the manner in which you may use any such products or services, payments and taxes, liability and indemnification of us and/or the Service Provider, confidential information and proprietary rights, suspension or termination of products or services provided thereunder, assignment of rights and delegation of duties thereunder, governing law and jurisdiction, pricing, and supplemental products and services available to or for the benefit of HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic Franchises (a "Service Agreement") that we may deem appropriate, and shall sign any such Service Agreement upon the earlier of signing this Agreement or promptly after receiving notice from us about
our requirement for your to sign the Service Agreement. The terms and conditions of any such Service Agreement are hereby incorporated herein by reference (the "Additional Terms and Conditions"). A copy of any such Service Agreement shall be attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 4.
You agree that the Ad Fund may be used to pay any and all costs of maintaining, administering, directing, and preparing national, regional or local advertising materials, programs, and promotional activities, including, without limitation, (a) costs for preparing and conducting television, radio, magazine, billboard, newspaper, internet and other media programs and activities, (b) costs associated with conducting marketing research, (c) costs associated with website development and marketing, including without limitation, search engine optimization and social media, (d) administering regional and multi-regional advertising programs, including, without limitation, purchasing direct mail and other media advertising, (e) employing advertising, program and marketing agencies, and vendors providing marketing services, (f) development, implementation and maintenance of online asset management tools, (g) marketing and advertising training programs and materials, and (h) costs for providing promotional brochures and advertising templates and materials to HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic franchises.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 77–282)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Healthsource Chiropractic's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to pay a monthly Technology Fee for website and technology-related services. While the FDD states that Healthsource Chiropractic may contract with third-party service providers for software and related services, it does not explicitly state whether Healthsource Chiropractic directly pays these third-party providers for website services on behalf of the franchisee. Instead, the franchisee is responsible for the Technology Fee.
Prospective Healthsource Chiropractic franchisees should note that they may be required to sign a service agreement with Healthsource Chiropractic or a third-party service provider, outlining the terms and conditions for the services, including payment terms. The FDD mentions that Healthsource Chiropractic may establish an advertising fund, which could be used for website development and marketing, but it does not guarantee that expenditures from the fund will directly benefit each franchisee in proportion to their contribution.
Therefore, it remains unclear from the provided excerpts whether Healthsource Chiropractic directly pays third-party providers for website services using the Technology Fees collected from franchisees. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from the franchisor regarding the specifics of how the Technology Fees are used and whether these fees cover direct payments to third-party website service providers.