Under what conditions might Aerus require a good faith deposit of $100?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
th Deposit and Initial Franchise Fee
We may require that you pay us a good faith deposit of $100, together with delivering to us a commitment letter, a sample of which is attached as Exhibit 7 to this Disclosure Document, before we will send an execution copy of the Franchise Agreement to you. The requirement of the $100 good faith deposit is dependent upon information disclosed to us in your application, such as work history, credit worthiness, previous franchise experience, references and/or previous work history with us or other Aerus franchisees. If we require the good faith deposit, it will be applied to the initial franchise fee and is only refundable if we choose not to enter into the Franchise Agreement with you. You must pay us the following non-refundable initial franchise fee at the time you sign
a Franchise Agreement, which will vary depending on the type of Franchised Business you wish to operate:
| Program | Initial Franchise Fee (less the amount of any good faith deposit paid) |
|---|---|
| Standard Program | $3,000 |
| Associate Program | $1,000 |
| Beyond Addendum (Standard Program) | $100 |
| Beyond Addendum (Associate Program) | $100 |
| Inventory (Standard Program) | $15,000 to $90,000 |
| Inventory (Associate Program) | $5,000 to $20,000 |
| Goodwill (Standard Program) | 0 to $200,000 |
| Goodwill (Associate Program) | 0 to $25,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (Standard | $2,500 to $15,000 |
| Program) |
Source: Item 5 — Initial Fees (FDD pages 17–20)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Aerus may require a good faith deposit of $100 from prospective franchisees under certain conditions. This requirement is based on information disclosed in the franchise application, such as the applicant's work history, creditworthiness, previous franchise experience, references, or prior work history with Aerus or other Aerus franchisees. Along with the deposit, the applicant must provide a commitment letter before Aerus will send an execution copy of the Franchise Agreement. This deposit is applied to the initial franchise fee. The good faith deposit is only refundable if Aerus chooses not to enter into the Franchise Agreement with the applicant.
However, Aerus does not require a good faith deposit for franchises in certain states, including Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Virginia, and Washington. In these states, the initial franchise fee is deferred until the business is open and operational.
The $100 deposit also applies to franchisees who sign a Beyond Addendum, whether they operate under the Standard Program or the Associate Program. This "Beyond Fee" is non-refundable and is due upon execution of the Beyond Addendum.