What is the maximum amount a Ben Jerrys franchisee must spend on the Grand Opening event?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
depending upon several factors, including the size and location of the Shop. Insurance deposits may be required by your insurance company, for your liability insurance, and workers compensation.
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- You must conduct a "Grand Opening" event within 90 days of opening your Scoop Shop. You must spend an amount up to $3,000 on activities as outlined in our Grand Opening program outlined in the Operating Manual. Your expenses may vary depending on various factors, including the size of your market and relative advertising costs in your area. Expenses that you may count toward your required Grand Opening expenditures include your costs (or fees paid to third parties) to implement and use any public relations templates that we may provide, implementation of items outlined in the Grand Opening Guidebook (which is part of the Manual), marketing efforts for the event, entertainment provided at the event, and the cost of product that you discount or give away at the event. Upon our request, you must provide our suppo
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 28–37)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to conduct a Grand Opening event within 90 days of opening their Scoop Shop. The maximum amount a franchisee must spend on the Grand Opening event is $3,000.
The FDD specifies that these expenses can vary depending on factors such as the size of the market and advertising costs in the area. Expenses that count toward the Grand Opening expenditures include costs for public relations templates provided by Ben Jerrys, implementation of items outlined in the Grand Opening Guidebook, marketing efforts, entertainment, and the cost of product that is discounted or given away at the event.
Ben Jerrys may reimburse franchisees up to $3,000 for Grand Opening costs if the event takes place within 90 days of the Scoop Shop opening, as required by the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees must provide documentation outlining the schedule for the Grand Opening event, related promotional activities, and associated costs and expenses incurred to Ben Jerrys's support team representative upon request. The Grand Opening advertising requirements are in addition to ongoing advertising obligations detailed in Item 6 of the FDD.