Will Ben Jerrys issue any form of trade credit to franchisees?

According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Ben Jerrys does not offer any form of trade credit to franchisees. Ben Jerrys will not offer, issue, or otherwise make available any form of trade credit for Ben & Jerry's products, or any other products or services purchased from them.

This means that franchisees must pay for all products and services upfront or through other financing arrangements they secure independently. This is a fairly common practice in franchising, as franchisors often prefer to avoid the risk and administrative burden of extending credit to franchisees.

Prospective franchisees should factor this into their financial planning, ensuring they have sufficient capital to cover all purchases from Ben Jerrys as required. This policy eliminates the risk of accumulating debt to the franchisor, but it also means franchisees need strong cash flow management.