What services related to website design and maintenance are HealthSource Chiropractic franchisees required to use?
Healthsource_Chiropractic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have contracted with third parties to provide web site design, maintenance, hosting, and search engine optimization for our franchises, and certain technology-related administrative expenses. You will be required to use all such services. You will pay us a fee for such services, and we will pay the third-party providers directly. The amount you pay us may be less or more than the amount we pay to the third-party providers and may be used to offset internal costs related to the stated purposes of this fee.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 28–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 HealthSource Chiropractic Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to use the franchisor's contracted third parties for website design, maintenance, hosting, and search engine optimization.
HealthSource Chiropractic franchisees will pay a fee for these services to HealthSource Chiropractic, who then pays the third-party providers directly. The amount the franchisee pays to HealthSource Chiropractic may be different from the amount HealthSource Chiropractic pays to the third-party providers. HealthSource Chiropractic may use the difference to offset internal costs related to the stated purposes of the fee.
This arrangement means that franchisees do not have the option to choose their own website design, maintenance, hosting, or search engine optimization providers. While this ensures brand consistency and potentially leverages the franchisor's expertise, it also removes the franchisee's control over these services and their associated costs. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the specific costs of these services and the criteria used to select the third-party providers.