What is the 'then-current fee' referring to regarding Additional Assistance from Beggars Pizza?
Beggars_Pizza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Replacement Fee | $250 | When billed. | Payable if you lose or misplace any part of the Manuals and we replace it. |
| Transfer Fee | $7,500 | Before transfer. | Payable if you transfer or assign your franchise. |
| Product Inspection and Testing | Cost of inspection or testing. We estimate that our costs will be between $500 and $2,000. | When billed. | Payable if you ask us to evaluate or approve a proposed supplier. See Item 8 for information about supplier restrictions and our supplier approval process. |
| Software Support and Upgrades | Approximately $175/month subject to increases. | As incurred. | You must pay Speedline Solutions, Inc. (“Speedline”) for license fees, ongoing software support, and upgrades. |
| Legal Fees and Indemnification | Varies according to cost or loss incurred. | On demand. | You indemnify us and our affiliates from liability for any claim based on or arising from your operation of the Restaurant. |
| Additional Assistance | Then-current fee. We currently charge $75/hour or $550/day. | When billed. | At your request, we may provide additional advice and assistance to you in our discretion. |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 9–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beggars Pizza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'then-current fee' for additional assistance refers to the hourly or daily rate Beggars Pizza charges for providing advice and assistance to franchisees, at their request. The FDD specifies that Beggars Pizza currently charges $75 per hour or $550 per day for this additional support. This fee is charged when the assistance is billed.
For a prospective Beggars Pizza franchisee, this means that if they require extra help or advice beyond the standard support offered, they can request it from Beggars Pizza. However, this service is not free; it comes at a cost of $75 per hour or $550 per day, depending on how the time is calculated. This cost should be factored into the franchisee's budget if they anticipate needing additional support, especially during the initial setup or during challenging operational periods.
Franchisors often provide support to their franchisees, but the extent and cost of that support can vary. Some franchisors include a certain amount of support in their initial franchise fee or ongoing royalty payments, while others charge separately for additional or specialized assistance. Beggars Pizza's approach of charging an hourly or daily rate for additional assistance allows franchisees to access support as needed while only paying for what they use. This can be beneficial for franchisees who are relatively self-sufficient but may occasionally require expert advice. However, franchisees should be mindful of these costs and use the additional assistance judiciously to avoid unexpected expenses.