Who pays for Sanitation and Food Safety Audits for an Afuri Ramen Dumpling franchise?
Afuri_Ramen_Dumpling Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Date Due | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise Agreement Section 5.1). | |||
| Non-Cash Payment Systems | All costs associated with non-cash payment systems | As incurred | You must accept debit cards, credit cards, stored value gift cards or other non-cash payment systems we specify. |
| Manual Replacement Fee | $500 | On demand | You pay this fee if you lose the copy of the Operations Manual we loan to you. |
| Re-Inspection Fee | $500 per re-inspection | On demand | You pay this fee if we must re-visit your location for an inspection after you have already been notified of any deficiency or non- satisfactory condition. |
| Liquidated Damages | An amount equal to two times the total Royalty Fees paid (or if unpaid, payable) by you during the 24 months before the termination date. | Within 30 days following the date of termination. | Payable if you default and we terminate your Franchise Agreement. |
| Sanitation and Food Safety Audits | Cost of the inspection | On demand | We may, in our sole discretion, contract with a third party to conduct sanitation and food safety audits during the term of your Franchise Agreement. |
| Business/Financial Audit7 | Our reasonable costs for the audit if you understate revenue by more than 2% or fail to deliver to us required reports on time | Immediately upon demand | See notes below. |
| Participation in Advisory Council | As incurred | As incurred | If you participate on an Advisory Council, you will pay any costs you incur related to your participation, such as travel and living expenses to attend |
Source: Item 6 — Other Fees (FDD pages 11–16)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Afuri Ramen Dumpling Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for covering the costs associated with sanitation and food safety audits. Afuri Ramen Dumpling retains the discretion to contract a third party for these audits during the term of the Franchise Agreement.
This means that as an Afuri Ramen Dumpling franchisee, you will be required to pay for these inspections. The cost will be due on demand. These audits are in addition to any taxes imposed as a result of your payment to Afuri Ramen Dumpling of initial or ongoing fees.
Franchisors in the food industry commonly retain the right to conduct audits for quality control and brand consistency. The fact that Afuri Ramen Dumpling can use a third party provides flexibility but also means the franchisee needs to be prepared for inspections by different entities, all at the franchisee's expense.