The terms used in franchising agreements can be as changing as the franchising industry itself. Actual words and phrases can vary in meaning and use between one company and another, but generally, the following franchise terms will be used:
– Acknowledgement of Receipt
This document is signed as a dated record of acceptance of a Disclosure Agreement.
– Advertising Fee
This is the amount paid as a contribution to advertising funds, usually as a pecentage of gross sales.
– Agreement
The contract spelling out details and obligations.
– Arbitration
Resolution of disagreements by a third-party, outside of the civil courts.
– Area Franchise
Some agreements allow rights to a designated territory, usually on payment of an area fee. These rights may or may not be exclusive, and may involve provisions such as specific location types (malls, stadiums, etc.).
-Assignment (see Advertising Fee)
– Broker
This is a third party managing the sale of franchising on behalf of the franchisor, and must be named in the FDD.
– Business Format Franchising
The specific business methods for using of a trademark or other licensed service mark as dictated by the parent company.
– Business Plan
A planning document that details the objectives for the business and establishes processes and measures for meeting those objectives.
– Capital Required
The amount of the deposit or cash payment required to purchase franchising .
– Churn
Though less common today, this is the sale of a failing location to a franchisee.
– Default
Failure of either party to live up to terms of the agreement; different defaults can involve different conditions or consequences.
– Designated Supplier
These are suppliers of equipment or materials approved by the franchisor
– Distributorship
The rights granted by a supplier to sell its product.
– Due Diligence
This refers to discovering facts critical to understanding a legal arrangement. Franchisees should do due diligence before signing any contract.
– Earnings Claims
This involves specific sales or profitability levels affecting franchisee income.
– FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document)
The format of the disclosure agreement is established by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association). It requires providing full information on the franchisor company, and explains all fees and costs to the franchisee.
– Feasibility Study
This is done to determine the potential benefits of franchising to the parent company, or the potential of a certain location or market.
– Field Representative
An agent of the franchisor that supervises franchisees in order to provide assistance or ensure compliance with company guidelines.
– Financial Performance Representation
The FPR is a required document representing the unit performance of a company’s franchising.
– Franchisor/Franchisee Agreement
A document specifying the obligations of each party during and after the relationship.
– Franchising Fee
This is a flat fee paid by the franchisee in order to offset the franchisor’s monetary risk.
– Gross Sales
This amount is the total sales before deduction of fees and taxes.
– Initial Investment
This is the total amount required from the franchisee, including fees, leases, deposits, materials, equipment, working capital, and other related costs.
– International Franchise Association
The (IFA) is a franchising industry trade association based out of Washington, D.C.
– Master Franchisee / Master Region
This is a franchisee granted the rights to sell franchising to others within a given territory, or Master Region.
– Multi-Unit Developer
This is the term for a franchisee who agrees to open multiple franchising locations within a specified territory and within a specific timeframe.
– Net Worth
Total assets remaining after subtraction of liabilities such as fees and operating costs.
– Non-Compete Clause
This agreement clause forbids the franchisee from competing with the parent company when the business relationship is ended.
– Offering Circular (see FDD)
– Operations Manual
This contains the information needed for successful and compliant operations.
– Protected or Exclusive Territory
A territory assigned a franchisee such that he/she is protected against any of the company’s other franchisees operating in the same territory.
– Registration
Some states may require submission of disclosure documents before approval is given. Registration is not required by the FTC.
– Registration States
The states where registration is required are members of the NASAA.
– Royalty Fee
Usually a percentage of gross sales paid to franchisor by the franchisee.
– Start-Up Costs (see Initial Investment
– Turnkey
A location that is equipped and ready for immediate operation.