Can the Bambu Marketing and Technology Fund be used for catering and charitable events?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee agrees that the Marketing and Technology Fund may be used for applications that promote Bambū shoppes, such as loyalty programs and other specialized applications that can add business to the shoppes, such as catering and charitable events, as well as for covering the costs of researching, preparing, maintaining, administering and directing advertising and promotional materials and public relations programs, including production of commercial print, radio, television, magazine, newspaper, Internet advertising, direct response literature, direct mailings, brochures, collateral materials advertising, surveys of advertising effectiveness, advisory council expenses, convention expenses, social media marketing, and other advertising or public relations expenditures, for any international, national, or regional media.
The Marketing and Technology Fund may also be used to pay for the expenses related to researching, developing, implementing, servicing, and operating any technology used in any manner related to the Bambū franchise system or Bambū shoppes, including any technologies utilized in or related to Bambu's website, search engine optimization, reporting of information for Bambū shoppes, the equipment used in Bambū shoppes, and Bambū shoppe computer systems (collectively, the "Technology").
Bambu may reimburse itself from the Marketing and Technology Fund for administrative costs, including the salaries of public relations personnel or persons administering the advertising services, the salaries of persons providing services related to any Technology, preparation of advertising materials, market research, independent audits, collection of the Marketing and Technology Fees, administration of the advisory council, accounting, bookkeeping, reporting and legal expenses, taxes and all other reasonable direct or indirect expenses that Bambu or its authorized representatives incur with the programs funded by the Advertising and Technology Fund.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Marketing and Technology Fund can be used for catering and charitable events. Bambu will manage the fund and has the discretion to decide how the money is spent.
The funds are used for applications that promote Bambu shops, such as loyalty programs and other specialized applications that can add business to the shops. The funds can also cover the costs of researching, preparing, maintaining, administering, and directing advertising and promotional materials and public relations programs.
Bambu may also use the Marketing and Technology Fund to cover expenses related to researching, developing, implementing, servicing, and operating any technology used in any manner related to the Bambu franchise system or Bambu shops, including technologies utilized in Bambu's website, search engine optimization, and computer systems. Bambu can also reimburse itself for administrative costs, including salaries, preparation of advertising materials, market research, and legal expenses.