HOODZ operates as a territory-based commercial kitchen service business. Under the March 30, 2026 FDD, a Standard Territory, Express Territory, or approved Conversion Franchise markets to Retail Food Service Customers, records bids and jobs in HOODZ Software, dispatches a trained Service Technician in a specified vehicle, completes QAV after every job, invoices, collects, and reports through prescribed systems.
Data basis. The legal franchisor is HOODZ International, LLC; BELFOR Franchise Group, LLC is the parent, and HOODZ North America, LLC operates Company Stores. Applicable pathways are Standard Territory, Express Territory and Conversion Franchise. Evidence includes the 2026 FDD Items listed above, the Franchise Agreement, Franchise Management Software License Agreement and Conversion Addendum. Item 20 reports through December 31, 2025. The official U.S. HOODZ franchise site and official HOODZ customer site were checked August 1, 2026. No verified franchise-controlled public 2026 FDD was located, so FDD citations are unlinked.
What does a HOODZ Business sell, and who buys it?
The HOODZ Business sells authorized cleaning, inspection, maintenance, repair, installation and restoration services for commercial kitchen exhaust and related equipment to Retail Food Service Customers and other commercial facilities within its Territory.
The 2026 FDD identifies commercial exhaust hood systems, conveyor ovens, kitchen equipment, facility premises, grease containment, grease filters, grease traps and filter exchange. The official commercial kitchen services menu also describes exhaust fan maintenance, pressure washing and filter programs. Fire-suppression work requires written consent plus specified credentials and insurance; residential customers require express written consent.
The canonical demand entity is a Retail Food Service Customer, or RFSC: restaurants, schools, institutions, manufacturing facilities and similar commercial customers. A Customer Service Location is the specific worksite. RFSC counts size the Territory; they do not promise customers.
| Pathway | Disclosed operating basis | Material distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Territory | 1,600 to 3,000 RFSCs | Uses the Standard minimum-performance schedule after the first operating year. |
| Express Territory | 750 to 1,599 RFSCs | Uses the Express schedule; expansion above 1,599 RFSCs moves it to the Standard schedule. |
| Conversion Franchise | Existing qualifying hood-cleaning business | Vehicles, websites, telephone numbers and media accounts convert to HOODZ controls; equipment exceptions require approval. |
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 1, pp. 1-3; Item 5, pp. 10-11; Item 12, pp. 48-54; Item 16, p. 59; Conversion Addendum, Exhibit I, pp. I-1-I-2; official cleaning-service descriptions; official maintenance-service descriptions.
How does a customer job move through the HOODZ Business?
The operating cycle combines territory-controlled selling, software-based estimating, technician fulfillment, job-level QAV, invoicing, collection and financial reporting. Local accounts and National or Regional Account work follow different commercial controls.
Generate and route demand
- Actor
- Managing Owner, sales/account staff, or HOODZ for NORA leads
- Action
- Use approved local marketing inside the Territory; receive calls through the dedicated number, corporate routing or a NORA referral.
- System or asset
- Approved materials, business number, official web presence
- Output
- Qualified inquiry tied to a Customer Service Location
Qualify, bid and schedule
- Actor
- Managing Owner or authorized sales/account employee
- Action
- Confirm Territory and NORA status, maintain the Customer record, bid the work, create an estimate and schedule an authorized service.
- System or asset
- HOODZ Software
- Output
- Approved scope, estimate and service appointment
Prepare the crew and vehicle
- Actor
- Managing Owner or Designated Manager
- Action
- Assign a trained Service Technician and verify equipment, approved chemicals, insurance, licenses and job capability. Job-specific temporary staff requires prior consent.
- System or asset
- Specified vehicle, GPS, mobile device, safety and cleaning equipment
- Output
- Service-ready crew and compliant work package
Inspect and perform the service
- Actor
- Service Technician under unit management
- Action
- Inspect the commercial kitchen system and perform only required or authorized work under HOODZ System Standards and applicable codes.
- System or asset
- Approved equipment, ZEP or then-current chemical supplier, technical procedures
- Output
- Completed cleaning, maintenance, repair or other authorized service
Verify quality and document completion
- Actor
- Service Technician and Managing Owner or Designated Manager
- Action
- Complete System Quality Assurance and Verification after every job and update service frequency, last-service date and account details.
- System or asset
- QAV protocol and HOODZ Software; customer materials describe before-and-after photo reports
- Output
- Verified job record and customer completion evidence
Invoice and collect
- Actor
- Franchisee for local accounts; HOODZ may invoice centralized NORA accounts
- Action
- Create the invoice, pursue collection and record payment. Royalty reporting is triggered by receipt or 90 days after the original invoice, whichever occurs first.
- System or asset
- HOODZ Software, approved accounting system and EFT process
- Output
- Recorded receivable, payment and reportable Gross Sales
Report and manage the next cycle
- Actor
- Managing Owner or Designated Manager
- Action
- Reconcile QuickBooks Online, submit required Gross Sales and financial reports, retain records and use service history to manage follow-up or recurring maintenance.
- System or asset
- Specified Chart of Accounts, QuickBooks Online, HOODZ Software
- Output
- Auditable records and the next account action
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 12-19; Item 11, pp. 37-47; Item 12, pp. 48-54; Franchise Agreement Sections 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8; official exhaust-system service page; NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations.
Who runs the unit and performs each function?
HOODZ does not disclose an absentee operating model. A full-time Managing Owner, or an approved Designated Manager where required, runs the business; at least one full-time Service Technician performs field work.
The Managing Owner has day-to-day authority, serves as HOODZ International, LLC’s primary contact, devotes full-time best efforts to management, promotion and receivables, and avoids conflicting activity without written consent. One Managing Owner may oversee multiple HOODZ Businesses only with approval; HOODZ may require a Designated Manager.
The franchisee hires and trains the Service Technician to HOODZ specifications. Sales and account-management employees may handle leads, bids and relationships, but the FDD sets no headcount for those roles. These employees must sign confidentiality agreements; job-specific temporary staff requires prior written approval.
The full-time management requirement is a contractual operating obligation, not a marketing preference. A buyer should not treat a Designated Manager as evidence that the principal owner can be passive; HOODZ retains approval rights and requires a trained manager to remain in place.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 11, pp. 40 and 44-47; Item 12, p. 50; Item 15, p. 58; Franchise Agreement Sections 1.C, 1.H, 3 and 7; official training and support overview.
Which suppliers, assets and technology are mandatory?
The franchisee funds and operates the local service platform, but HOODZ specifies key tools, chemicals, vehicles, communications, software, accounting, data and quality systems.
Franchisee functions
- Hire, train and supervise the Service Technician.
- Maintain the approved Office Site, vehicles, licenses and insurance.
- Sell locally, schedule jobs, perform authorized work and collect local receivables.
- Maintain QuickBooks Online, submit reports and retain records.
Franchisor controls
- Define HOODZ System Standards and required services.
- Approve suppliers, products, advertising, sites and internet profiles.
- Provide or designate HOODZ Software, business-number routing and support.
- Access data, inspect work, audit records and modify specifications.
Third-party dependencies
- BHI for designated Initial Package apparel, tools and safety items.
- ZEP, or the then-current designated chemical supplier.
- Approved vehicle, GPS, mobile, internet and insurance providers.
- QuickBooks Online and any HOODZ-designated technology vendors.
BHI is the only approved supplier for specified Initial Package items; replacement and additional cleaning supplies must come from designated sources. Alternative suppliers require a written submission and materials: HOODZ has ten days to decide, silence means disapproval, and approval may be revoked. The initial vehicle must use an approved supplier and meet equipment, appearance, decal, GPS and continuous-data standards.
HOODZ Software is required for customer records, bids, estimates and operating activity, and its quarterly license is tied to franchise good standing. QuickBooks Online and the specified Chart of Accounts are mandatory; HOODZ may access computer and financial data without notice or a contractual access limit. Generative AI is prohibited in operations, marketing, customer communications and business planning unless HOODZ gives written authorization.
Customer Information is not treated as an independently owned franchisee asset. The Franchise Agreement states that HOODZ owns customer lists and data, requires current records in HOODZ Software, may communicate with customers, and limits franchisee use to operating the HOODZ Business during the agreement.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 8, pp. 29-33; Item 11, pp. 40-43 and 47; Franchise Agreement Sections 5.B, 5.C, 7 and 8; Franchise Management Software License Agreement, Exhibit C; official Filter Exchange Service page; BELFOR Franchise Group’s HOODZ brand page.
What does HOODZ control, and what remains with the franchisee?
The franchisee controls local execution and employment decisions within a narrow operating envelope. HOODZ controls the service menu, System Standards, brand communications, core technology, customer data, supplier approval, NORA relationships and compliance remedies.
| Operating decision | HOODZ position | Franchisee decision remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Services | May require, authorize, change or prohibit service categories. | Select local prospects and may decline a location, subject to reassignment. |
| Staffing | Requires trained full-time management and at least one full-time Service Technician. | Recruit, employ, schedule and supervise compliant personnel. |
| Marketing | Approves materials, profiles, websites, scripts and online presence. | Execute approved local activity and spend additional local amounts. |
| Pricing | Sets NORA terms and pricing and may set alternative-channel order prices. | General local-account pricing authority is not clearly disclosed in the cited Items. |
| Quality and records | Requires QAV, reports, software, data access, inspections and audits. | Perform the job, maintain records and cure deficiencies. |
| Suppliers and assets | Specifies or approves products, chemicals, vehicles, hardware and vendors. | Request alternatives and manage approved assets at local expense. |
How do Territory, NORA and internet rules shape customer access?
The Territory provides limited local operating protection, not legal exclusivity. The franchisee may market and service inside assigned zip codes, while HOODZ retains substantial national-account, digital-channel and reassignment rights.
The FDD grants no exclusive Territory. HOODZ generally restricts another dedicated HOODZ Business from targeted print or media advertising primarily directed into it, but national or regional media may reach it. HOODZ retains NORA, Alternative Distribution Channel, other-mark, reassignment and specified performance-remedy rights.
A NORA relationship is centrally controlled. A compliant franchisee receives exclusive referrals for covered Customer Service Locations in the Territory, but HOODZ may set scope and pricing, require reports, centralize invoicing and collection, or reassign non-compliant work to another franchisee, Company Store or third party.
Online demand is also restricted. The franchisee may not create a separate website, Google Business Profile, social-media profile or other internet presence without advance written approval. Official franchise pages use the phrase “protected territory,” but the official BELFOR Franchise Group advantage page qualifies that description as subject to the franchise agreement; the FDD’s non-exclusive grant controls.
Out-of-Territory Conduct includes advertising, soliciting, marketing, scheduling or servicing outside the Territory without prior written consent. The remedy can include a Non-Compliance Fee, default or termination; cross-territory work should not be treated as informal overflow capacity.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 8, pp. 29-33; Item 11, pp. 38-41; Item 12, pp. 48-54; Franchise Agreement Sections 1.D-1.F and 2.G.
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At December 31, 2025, Item 20 reported 142 U.S. outlets: 135 franchised and seven company- or affiliate-owned. The network is therefore predominantly franchise-operated, while company operations remain a live fulfillment and reassignment channel.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, Table No. 1, p. 69. Percentages are calculated as 135/142 and 7/142 and reconcile to 100.0% after rounding.
Item 20 shows total outlets rising from 135 in 2023 to 137 in 2024 and 142 in 2025. Outlet count is not owner count: Item 19 reports 63 franchise owners operating 135 Territories at December 31, 2025, confirming a material Multi-Territory Operator population.
Which operating questions remain to be verified?
The FDD defines the control structure, but several day-to-day details depend on the current HOODZ System Standards, vendor list, Territory map and NORA contracts.
- Confirm the exact zip-code Territory, RFSC count, adjacent operators and every exception to local protection.
- Request the current required-service list, optional-service approvals, licensing matrix and QAV evidence package.
- Identify the current chemical, vehicle, GPS, mobile, insurance and technology vendors and replacement rules.
- Verify general local-account pricing authority separately from HOODZ-controlled NORA and alternative-channel pricing.
- Test the staffing plan against the full-time Managing Owner or Designated Manager obligation and the full-time Service Technician minimum.
- Review HOODZ Software data access, customer-data ownership, cybersecurity requirements and data handling at transfer or termination.
- For a Conversion Franchise, document the deadline and process for vehicle rebranding, website transfer, call forwarding and social-account transfer.
How should the HOODZ model be understood?
The central mechanism is a business-to-business service cycle: acquire a Retail Food Service Customer, inspect and estimate a Customer Service Location, dispatch a trained Service Technician, complete authorized commercial kitchen work, verify the job through QAV, invoice, collect and report. The franchisee’s most important responsibility is full-time local execution and workforce management. The strongest dependency is HOODZ control over System Standards, customer data, technology and suppliers. Territory protection is non-exclusive, NORA is centrally controlled, and the largest unresolved question is the practical boundary of local pricing and account discretion under the current manuals and contracts.