Are the fees described in Item 5 of the Apricot Lane FDD uniform for all franchisees?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
IAL FEES**
The standard initial franchise fee is $39,500. We may provide a $5,000 reduction on the initial franchise fee to veterans of U.S. Armed Forces who meet our criteria. Currently, to qualify for the discount, the veteran must own at least 50.0% of the franchise. "Veteran" means a person who receives an honorable discharge, as evidenced by a U.S. Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214). The franchise fee for a second and each additional franchise purchased is $20,000. Otherwise, the initial franchise fee and any subsequent fees paid for additional stores are uniform for all franchisees. During fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, we collected franchise fees ranging from $15,000 to $39,500.
If at the time you sign the Franchise Agreement no specific location has been determined for your Franchised Business, you will also sign Exhibit A to the Franchise Agreement, giving you an "open license" to establish the Franchised Business at a mutually agreed upon site in the future. In that case, you will pay us the initial franchise fee in two installments including a nonrefundable deposit of $5,000 on signing the Franchise Agreement and the balance upon the execution of the Landlord's letter of intent for a site approved by COUNTRY VISIONS (see Item 11 of this Disclosure Document for details about site selection and approval). Otherwise, the franchise fee is paid in full on signing the Franchise Agreement. The franchise fee is fully earned and non-refundable upon payment, except as expressly provided below in th
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 10–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee and subsequent fees for additional stores are generally uniform for all franchisees. The standard initial franchise fee is $39,500. However, there are exceptions to this uniformity.
Apricot Lane offers a $5,000 reduction on the initial franchise fee to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who meet specific criteria, including owning at least 50% of the franchise and receiving an honorable discharge, evidenced by a U.S. Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214). Additionally, the franchise fee for a second or additional franchise purchased is $20,000, which differs from the standard initial fee.
The FDD also indicates that during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, Apricot Lane collected franchise fees ranging from $15,000 to $39,500. This range suggests that other factors or promotions may influence the actual initial fee paid by franchisees, despite the stated standard fee. If a specific location has not been determined when signing the Franchise Agreement, the initial franchise fee is paid in two installments: a nonrefundable $5,000 deposit and the balance upon execution of the Landlord's letter of intent for an approved site.