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Where in the 7 Brew franchise agreement can I find information about the brand fund?

7_Brew Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

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  • (4) To presume conclusively that any violation of the terms of this Section or Section 19.E was accompanied by the misappropriation and inevitable disclosure of Confidential Information and constitutes a deceptive and unfair trade practice and unfair competition.

13. Advertising and Marketing

A. Brand Fund

  • (1) We have established a fund ("Brand Fund" or "Fund") for advertising, marketing, research and development, public relations, Social-Media management, lead-generation, customer-relationship-management, and technology programs, materials, and activities, the purpose of which is to enhance, promote, and protect the 7 BREW Store brand and Franchise System. You agree to contribute to the Brand Fund the amounts we periodically specify, not to exceed two percent (2.0%) of the Store's weekly Gross Sales. Your Brand Fund contribution is due and payable at the same time and in the same manner as the Royalty or in such other manner we periodically specify. 7 BREW Stores that we and our affiliates own will contribute to the Brand Fund on the same percentage basis as franchisees.
  • (2) We will direct all programs the Brand Fund finances, with sole control over all creative and business aspects of the Fund's activities. The Brand Fund may pay for, among other things, preparing, producing, and placing video, audio, and written materials, Digital Marketing, and Social Media; developing, maintaining, and administering one or more System Websites; creating and administering national, regional, multi-regional, local, and multi-local marketing, advertising, and lead-generation programs (which may include spending Brand Fund contributions in specific geographic markets or directing Brand Fund contributions to individual or groups of franchisees to spend on marketing, advertising, and lead-generation programs in their own markets); using advertising, promotion, and marketing agencies and other advisors to provide assistance; establishing regional and national promotions and partnerships and hiring spokespersons to promote the 7 BREW Store brand; establishing on-line systems and other vehicles for centralized customer interaction; supporting public relations, market research and

development, and other advertising, promotion, marketing, and brand-related activities; funding visits by our executives, other personnel, and third-party service providers to 7 BREW Stores to establish, enforce, and confirm compliance with the 7 BREW Store culture; and funding technology initiatives for 7 BREW Stores, including mobile training and operational performance software, cloud-based franchise-management solutions, IT phone support and database maintenance, online ordering and loyalty subscriptions, iPad mobile device management, and elearning solutions. The Brand Fund periodically may give you sample advertising, marketing, promotional, and lead-generation formats and materials (collectively, "Marketing Materials") at no cost. We may sell you multiple copies of Marketing Materials at our direct cost of producing them, plus any related shipping, handling, and storage charges.

  • (3) We will account for the Brand Fund separately from our other funds (although we need not keep Brand Fund contributions in a separate bank account) and not use the Brand Fund for any of our general operating expenses. However, the Brand Fund may reimburse us and our affiliates for the reasonable salaries and benefits of personnel who manage and administer, or otherwise provide assistance or services to, the Brand Fund; the Brand Fund's administrative costs; TRE of our personnel while they are on Brand Fund business; meeting costs; overhead relating to Brand Fund business; and other expenses we and our affiliates incur administering or directing the Brand Fund and its programs, including conducting market research, preparing Marketing Materials, collecting and accounting for Brand Fund contributions, paying taxes due on Brand Fund contributions we receive, and any other costs or expenses we incur operating or as a consequence of the Fund. The Brand Fund is not a trust, and we do not owe you fiduciary obligations because we maintain, direct, or administer the Brand Fund or for any other reason.
  • (4) The Brand Fund may spend in any fiscal year more or less than the total Brand Fund contributions in that year, borrow from us or others (paying reasonable interest) to cover deficits, invest any surplus for future use, and roll over unspent monies to the following year. We may use new Brand Fund contributions to pay Brand Fund deficits incurred during previous years. We will use all interest earned on Brand Fund contributions to pay costs before using the Brand Fund's other assets. We will prepare an annual, unaudited statement of Brand Fund collections and expenses and share the statement electronically within sixty (60) days after our fiscal-year end or otherwise give you a copy of the statement upon reasonable request. We may (but need not) have the Brand Fund audited annually, at the Brand Fund's expense, by a certified public accountant we designate. We may incorporate the Brand Fund or operate it through a separate entity whenever we deem appropriate. The successor entity will have all of the rights and duties specified in this Section 13.A.
  • (5) The Brand Fund's principal purposes are to maximize recognition of the Marks, increase patronage of 7 BREW Stores, and enhance, promote, and protect the 7 BREW Store brand and Franchise System. Although we will try to use the Brand Fund in the aggregate to develop and implement Marketing Materials and programs benefiting all 7 BREW Stores, we need not ensure that Brand Fund expenditures in or affecting any geographic area are proportionate or equivalent to Brand Fund contributions by 7 BREW Stores operating in that geographic area or that any 7 BREW Store benefits directly or in proportion to its Brand Fund contribution from the development of Marketing Materials or the implementation of programs. The Brand Fund will not be used principally to develop materials and programs to solicit franchisees. However, media, materials, and programs (including the System Website) prepared using Brand Fund contributions

may describe our franchise program, reference the availability of franchises and related information, and process franchise leads. We have the right, but no obligation, to use collection agents and institute legal proceedings at the Brand Fund's expense to collect unpaid Brand Fund contributions. We also may forgive, waive, settle, and compromise all claims by or against the Brand Fund. Except as expressly provided in this Section 13.A, we assume no direct or indirect liability or obligation to you for collecting amounts due to, maintaining, directing, or administering the Brand Fund.

(6) We may at any time defer or reduce the Brand Fund contributions of any 7 BREW Store franchisee and, upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to you, reduce or suspend Brand Fund contributions and operations for one or more periods of any length and terminate (and, if terminated, reinstate) the Brand Fund.

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 82–83)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to 7 Brew's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, details regarding the Brand Fund can be found in Section 13.A of Item 22, which covers advertising and marketing. This section outlines the purpose, contribution requirements, and usage of the Brand Fund. As a franchisee, you'll be required to contribute a specified amount, up to 2% of your store's weekly gross sales, to this fund. These contributions are due at the same time and manner as royalty payments, unless otherwise specified. Notably, 7 Brew stores owned by the company and its affiliates also contribute to the Brand Fund on the same percentage basis as franchisees, ensuring aligned financial participation.

The Brand Fund is used for various initiatives aimed at enhancing and protecting the 7 Brew brand, including advertising, marketing, research and development, public relations, social media management, lead generation, and technology programs. 7 Brew maintains sole control over the creative and business aspects of the Fund's activities, including preparing marketing materials, developing System Websites, and administering marketing programs. The Brand Fund may also cover the costs of visits by 7 Brew personnel to stores, technology initiatives, and online ordering systems. While 7 Brew aims to benefit all stores, there's no guarantee that expenditures in any specific area will be proportionate to contributions from stores in that area.

7 Brew will account for the Brand Fund separately from its other funds, though contributions don't need to be kept in a separate bank account. The Brand Fund will not be used for 7 Brew's general operating expenses, but it may reimburse 7 Brew and its affiliates for reasonable salaries, administrative costs, travel, and overhead related to the Fund's business. The Brand Fund can spend more or less than the total contributions in a given year, borrow funds to cover deficits, invest surpluses, and roll over unspent monies. 7 Brew may use new contributions to cover past deficits and will use interest earned on contributions to pay costs before using other assets. An annual, unaudited statement of Brand Fund collections and expenses will be provided to franchisees within 60 days after the fiscal year end or upon reasonable request. While 7 Brew may conduct an annual audit of the Brand Fund, it is not obligated to do so.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.