What costs can Aerus charge to the System Media Fund?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
a Fund, or to expend any particular amount of money in your Area of Responsibility.
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- The System Media Fund will be used only (except as otherwise provided below) to meet any and all costs of maintaining, administering, directing, conducting, creating, and/or otherwise preparing advertising, marketing, public relations and promotional programs and materials, and any other activities that we believe will enhance the image of the Programs.
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- We have the right to use System Media Fund contributions to, among other things, prepare and/or conduct media advertising campaigns, social media campaigns, direct mail advertising, marketing surveys and other public relations activities; employ advertising and/or public relations agencies to assist in doing so; purchase promotional items; develop new or modified trade dress and marks; point-of-purchase (POP) materials; design and photographs; conduct and administer visual merchandising, and other merchandising programs; purchase media space or time (including all associated fees and expenses); administer regional and multi-regional marketing and advertising programs; engage in or retain third parties to engage in market research and customer satisfaction surveys; develop and implement customer loyalty and gift card programs; customer retention programs; offset costs associated with the creative development of, and actual production associated
2025 Aerus FDD 28
with, premium items, giveaways, promotions, contests, public relation events, and charitable or non-profit events; develop and maintain our website(s); develop, implement and maintain an electronic commerce website and/or related strategies; maintain and develop one or more websites devoted to the Programs and Marks; provide promotional and other marketing materials and services to Franchised Businesses operated under the Programs; and offset the salaries of our employees to the extent such employees provide services in conjunction with System marketing activities. The System Media Fund may also be used to provide rebates or reimbursements to franchisees for local expenditures on products, services, or improvements, approved in advance by us, which products, services, or improvements we will have the right to determine, that we believe will promote general public awareness and favorable support for the Programs. We will have the sole right to decide how the System Media Fund creates, places, and pays for marketing.
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- Upon 30 days' notice from us that we have established the System Media Fund, you must contribute to the System Media Fund in the manner we specify. All sums you pay to the System Media Fund will be maintained in an account separate from our other monies.
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Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 36–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the System Media Fund can be used to cover a wide array of costs associated with advertising, marketing, and promotion. These include the expenses of maintaining, administering, and directing advertising programs, as well as creating the related materials. Aerus has the right to use the fund for media advertising campaigns, social media, direct mail, marketing surveys, and other public relations activities. They can also employ agencies to assist with these efforts.
Further, the System Media Fund can be used to purchase promotional items, develop trade dress and marks, create point-of-purchase materials, and manage visual merchandising programs. It also covers the costs of purchasing media space or time, administering regional marketing programs, conducting market research and customer satisfaction surveys, and developing customer loyalty and gift card programs. The fund can also offset salaries of Aerus employees involved in system marketing activities.
Aerus can also charge the System Media Fund for reasonable administrative costs and overhead related to directing and implementing the fund and marketing programs. This includes personnel costs, associated overhead, and accounting services. The System Media Fund may also be used to provide rebates or reimbursements to franchisees for local expenditures on products, services, or improvements that Aerus approves in advance to promote public awareness and support for the Programs. Aerus has the sole right to decide how the System Media Fund creates, places, and pays for marketing.
Prospective franchisees should note that Aerus has significant discretion in how the System Media Fund is used, and is not obligated to ensure that expenditures benefit each franchisee directly or proportionately to their contribution. Franchisees are required to contribute to the fund, up to 3% of Gross Sales, if Aerus establishes it. It is important for potential franchisees to understand these terms and consider the implications for their own business and marketing strategies.