How does the C12 Group franchise operate after opening?
C12 Group operates as a territory-based, fee-for-service executive peer-advisory franchise. A full-time Principal Chair develops local membership, enrolls qualified CEO Members and Key Player Members, facilitates monthly Business Forums and FOCUS60 one-on-one sessions, bills and collects member dues, and reports activity to The C12 Group, LLC under C12-prescribed content, technology, brand, and territory standards.
What does a C12 franchisee sell, and who buys it?
The franchised business is an executive-development and peer-advisory program for Christian business owners, CEOs, presidents, general managers, and selected senior staff. The franchisee sells recurring C12 membership combining a monthly CEO Forum or Key Players Forum with monthly one-on-one consultation. Item 19 identifies member registration fees and monthly dues as the operating revenue streams.
CEO Forum
A CEO Forum is a monthly peer executive roundtable for business owners and CEOs. The Principal Chair or approved Associate Chair facilitates it with C12 agendas, curriculum, mixed-media content, forms, and facilitation standards. The public C12 overview also describes confidential monthly Forums led by full-time Chairs.
Key Players Forum
A Key Players Forum serves presidents, vice presidents, general managers, directors, and other executive leaders connected to a CEO Forum member company. It uses the same C12 content and processes but keeps Key Players separate from CEO/owner groups, as the official membership FAQ also states.
The FDD describes one Territory-based C12 franchised business, not separate store, kiosk, or mobile formats. A Principal Chair may add approved, trained Associate Chairs to build and facilitate additional Business Forums within the Territory, so service capacity expands through Area Chairs and Forums.
The FDD's Territory model uses Target Companies with at least 10 employees and at least $2 million in annual revenue. C12's membership application also uses a 10-employee threshold, while the current Member Covenant page states a lower threshold. Verify which rule governs actual member intake; the FDD standard still controls the contractual Territory calculation.
How does work move from prospect to recurring member service?
The operating cycle is relationship-led. The Area Chair develops demand, qualifies prospects, completes C12's registration process, schedules Forums and FOCUS60 sessions, delivers prescribed content, then closes the month with billing, collection, and the Area Chair Activity and Payment Report.
- Actor
- Principal Chair or approved Area Chair.
- Action
- Develop local prospects through direct outreach, referrals, events, approved local marketing, and leads routed by C12.
- Required system/asset
- C12 brand standards, localized web presence, approved campaign materials, and prospect records.
- Output
- Qualified prospect or referral-source conversation.
- Actor
- Area Chair.
- Action
- Assess membership fit and Territory rules. An out-of-Territory prospect must be told about the applicable local Forum option before choosing where to participate.
- Required system/asset
- C12 membership standards, Territory map, member application or covenant.
- Output
- Prospect approved to join a specific CEO Forum or Key Players Forum.
- Actor
- Franchisee and The C12 Group, LLC.
- Action
- Register the member using C12 forms and payment protocols. C12 must receive the registration form and required remittance before the New Member Registration Kit or binder is released.
- Required system/asset
- C12 App or other designated platform; New Member Registration Kit.
- Output
- Completed member registration and onboarding materials.
- Actor
- Area Chair.
- Action
- Prepare and facilitate the recurring Business Forum at a fixed date and location using the prescribed monthly agenda, curriculum, mixed media, facilitation notes, forms, and Meeting Playbook standards.
- Required system/asset
- Meeting venue, computer, projector/audio-video capability, C12 curriculum and forms.
- Output
- Completed monthly peer-advisory Forum.
- Actor
- Area Chair and member.
- Action
- Conduct the monthly FOCUS60 one-on-one session between Forums for goal setting, planning, accountability, and counsel. The Chair is required to facilitate, not act as the sole teacher or preacher.
- Required system/asset
- One-on-One Playbook, member information, agreed meeting location.
- Output
- Member follow-up, commitments, and next-cycle priorities.
- Actor
- Franchisee.
- Action
- Invoice and collect member registration fees and monthly dues, maintain the roster and billings, then submit the monthly Area Chair Activity and Payment Report and required remittance to C12.
- Required system/asset
- Reporting system, billing/payment records, C12 App or designated platform.
- Output
- Closed monthly operating record and next recurring service cycle.
C12's public Member Covenant confirms monthly Forums and monthly FOCUS60. The franchisee controls invoicing and collections, while the C12 royalty mechanism uses the membership roster and Gross Billings even when an invoice remains uncollected.
Who performs each function, and can the franchise be manager-run?
The operating role is not absentee. Item 15 requires the Principal Chair to remain active in day-to-day operations, and the Franchise Agreement requires full-time operation and attention. The official Chair page likewise describes the Chair role as a full-time endeavor.
The C12 Group, LLC permits approved third-party investors, silent equity positions, and non-operating ownership entities, but the entity must designate a C12-approved Principal Chair with authority to operate the franchise and lead Area Chairs. The franchisor also approves and trains Associate Chairs. The FDD does not disclose a standard employee headcount or staffing ratio.
Which suppliers, technology, and physical assets are mandatory?
Item 8 makes The C12 Group, LLC the required source for New Member Registration Kits. Otherwise, the FDD does not require a specified supplier for equipment, services, fixtures, computer equipment, inventory, or real estate. The C12 Group, LLC supplies most recurring meeting materials; the franchisee may print certain materials locally on C12-specified paper.
The Franchise Agreement requires an up-to-date computer compatible with Google Workspace, printing capability, and C12-required software, applications, projection, audio-video, and recording equipment. Item 11 also requires high-speed internet and large-file email capability. The C12 Terms of Service publicly confirms the C12 App as part of the service environment.
Exhibit E's Franchise Operations Manual table of contents names the C12 App, Less Annoying CRM (LACRM), Dropbox, Keynote, LinkedIn, Email, Billing & Payments, and Pricing. Item 11 separately says C12 expected a new CRM in 2026 and required CRM fees in 2027. Because the FDD does not confirm completion, verify the current CRM, migration, access rights, and implementation date.
Item 11 says franchisees generally use a home office, while a multi-unit practice or affiliated business may choose commercial space. Service occurs at Forum venues and one-on-one locations. Regular Business Forum meetings should not occur at member workplaces without a C12 exception, and venues must meet its board-meeting quality standard.
What does C12 control, and what operating decisions stay with the franchisee?
The C12 Group, LLC controls the branded service architecture. The Franchise Agreement requires the Operations Manual, C12 System Standards, prescribed agendas, forms, websites, Brand Standards Guide, Meeting Playbook, and One-on-One Playbook, and allows C12 to modify System Standards. Item 16 limits the franchisee to C12-approved goods and services.
The Territory is exclusive but conditional. The franchisee may not solicit members or prospects who live and work outside it, including through internet or third-party channels. C12 may redefine exclusivity or terminate after cure if Baseline Target standards are missed: 33% within 24 months and 50% within 36 months, subject to the CEO-member minimum rule.
Out-of-Territory service is non-exclusive when a person chooses a Forum in the franchisee's Territory, but the prospect must be informed of the applicable local C12 option. The franchisee must reside in the Territory unless approved otherwise and may relocate only within its boundaries.
What does Item 20 show about the U.S. franchise network?
Item 20 shows a fully franchised U.S. outlet base at the end of 2025. Year-end franchised outlets rose from 65 in 2023 to 67 in 2024 and 74 in 2025; company-owned outlets were zero at each year end. Table No. 3 reports seven 2025 openings and no franchised cessations.
Transfers are separate from closures. Item 20 reports one franchisee-to-new-owner transfer in 2023, two in 2024, and four in 2025, alongside zero company-owned outlets at 2025 year end.
Which operating questions remain unresolved or need current confirmation?
The April 20, 2026 FDD leaves several current-state operating points unresolved. These questions can materially affect daily workflow.