What are the obligations of a Kidokinetics franchisee related to purchasing supplies (Item 8) and how are these obligations summarized in Item 9?
Kidokinetics Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
SERVICES
You must operate your Kidokinetics Business according to our System and specifications. This includes purchasing or leasing products, services, supplies, equipment, computer hardware and software, and inventory related to establishing and operating the Kidokinetics Franchise under our specifications, which may include purchasing these items from: (i) our designees; (ii) approved suppliers; and/or (iii) us or our affiliates. You must not deviate from these methods, standards and specifications without our prior written consent, or otherwise operate in any manner which reflects adversely on our Marks or the System.
Our confidential franchise operations manual ("Franchise Operations Manual") states our standards, specifications and guidelines for all products and services we require you to obtain in establishing and operating your Kidokinetics Franchise and approved vendors for these products and services. We will notify you of new or modified standards, specifications and guidelines through periodic amendments or supplements to the Franchise Operations Manual or through other written communication (including electronic communication such as email or through a system-wide intranet).
You must purchase, install, maintain in sufficient supply and use equipment, signs and supplies that conform to the standards and specifications described in the Franchise Operations Manual or otherwise in writing.
Many of the products, supplies and services discussed above may only be purchased from approved suppliers in accordance with the Franchise Operations Manual. We will provide you with a list of these items and services and their approved suppliers, which may include or be limited to us or an affiliate. We are approved suppliers of the proprietary business management software. We or our affiliate are the exclusive provider of the Enhanced Business Coaching and Training Services for your Kidokinetics Businesses and of the marketing materials and services including the Initial Marketing Package. We are also an approved supplier of logoed items, such as uniforms, packaging supplies and other items bearing the Marks, but we may approve alternate suppliers in our discretion.
If you want to use any item or service in establishing or operating your Kidokinetics Business that we have not approved (for items or services that require supplier approval), you must first send us sufficient information, specifications or samples for us to determine whether the item or service complies with our standards and specifications or whether the supplier meets our approved supplier criteria. You must reimburse us for all of our reasonable expenses in connection with determining whether we will approve an item, service or supplier. We will decide within a reasonable time (usually 30 days) after receiving the required information whether you may purchase or lease the items or services or if you may purchase from the supplier. Our approval may later be withdrawn based on the supplier's performance, changes in our specifications, standards or requirements, or for other reasons.
Our approval process generally focuses on the supplier's dependability, general reputation and ability to provide sufficient quantity of product or services, and the products' or services' prices and quality. Our standards, specifications and other criteria for supplier or distributor approval have been developed by us, our principals and our affiliates through the expenditure of extensive work and time and are considered confidential information. We do not make our standards and specifications or our other criteria for supplier
or distributor approval available to our franchisees or approved suppliers. Our specifications, standards and requirements may, on occasion, change, in our sole discretion.
We reserve the right to limit the number of potential suppliers we may consider for approval and for some categories of products or services, we may designate a third party or ourselves as exclusive suppliers.
We may, but are not required to, negotiate purchase arrangements with suppliers and distributors for the benefit of franchisees and the System as a whole, and we may receive rebates or volume discounts from our purchase of equipment and supplies that we resell to you. We currently do not have any purchasing or distribution cooperatives. We do not provide any other material benefits to franchisees for using designated or approved suppliers; however, purchases of unapproved products or from unapproved suppliers in violation of the Franchise Agreement will entitle us to, among other things, terminate the Franchise Agreement. We and our affiliates may receive rebates from some suppliers based on your purchase of products and services and we have no obligation to pass them on to our franchisees or use them in any particular manner. We reserve the right to receive fees or other consideration in exchange for rights licensed or granted, or services rendered to third parties, including vendors. We may derive income, consideration and other benefits from your purchases or lease of any products, services, supplies or other items from us and from approved and designated suppliers. This income may be derived in any form, including as a rebate from various suppliers based on the quantity of System franchisee purchases. We do not guarantee the availability of independent sources of supply for any particular product or service required to establish or operate your Kidokinetics Business.
You will also pay us a Software License Fee of $3,000 prior to opening for our proprietary KIDOLINK software ($1,000 for additional Kidokinetics Businesses). Except as disclosed above, as of the Issuance Date of this Franchise Disclosure Document, neither we, nor our affiliates are approved suppliers of any item, although we may become one in the future. Some of our officers own an equity interest in us, an approved supplier.
You must use the computer hardware and software, including the point-of-sale system that we periodically designate to operate your Kidokinetics Business. You must obtain the computer hardware, software licenses, maintenance and support services and other related services that meet our specifications from the suppliers we specify. You must pay the then-current fees to approved suppliers for certain technology business solutions that will support your business efficiencies, which may include phone systems, scheduling software, bookkeeping services and any other solutions we may require from time to time in the Franchise Operations Manual.
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Kidokinetics's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must operate their Kidokinetics business according to the Kidokinetics system and specifications. This includes purchasing or leasing products, services, supplies, equipment, computer hardware and software, and inventory related to establishing and operating the franchise. These items may be purchased from Kidokinetics' designees, approved suppliers, or directly from Kidokinetics or its affiliates. Franchisees must adhere to the standards, specifications, and guidelines outlined in the Franchise Operations Manual, with notifications of any changes provided through amendments or supplements to the manual or other written communication. Franchisees are required to maintain sufficient supplies of equipment and signs that conform to the standards described in the Franchise Operations Manual.
Kidokinetics reserves the right to limit the number of potential suppliers and may designate exclusive suppliers for certain products or services. While Kidokinetics may negotiate purchase arrangements with suppliers for the benefit of franchisees, they are not obligated to pass on any rebates or volume discounts received. Purchases from unapproved suppliers can result in termination of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees will also pay a Software License Fee of $3,000 prior to opening for the KIDOLINK software ($1,000 for additional Kidokinetics Businesses). Kidokinetics estimates that 30% to 80% of expenditures for leases and purchases in establishing the Kidokinetics Business will be from Kidokinetics or approved suppliers, and approximately 25% to 30% of ongoing expenditures will be from approved sources. In 2023, Kidokinetics derived $511,370 in revenue from required franchisee purchases, representing 14.5% of their total revenue of $3,509,206.
Item 9 does not summarize obligations related to purchasing supplies. Item 9 in the FDD outlines obligations of the franchisee related to the ongoing operation of the franchise, including maintaining a neat and clean appearance, using only approved equipment and supplies, and adhering to system standards. Specifically, franchisees must obtain and use only equipment, vehicles, products, supplies, business forms, signs, stationery, and services that conform to the current standards and specifications for the Kidokinetics system.
Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Operations Manual and approved supplier lists to understand the full scope of required purchases and potential costs. They should also inquire about the process for approving new suppliers if they wish to use a supplier not currently on the approved list. Understanding these obligations is crucial for managing costs and ensuring compliance with the franchise agreement.