Will Ben Jerrys otherwise make available 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. Specifically, 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 have sufficient capital to cover all purchases from the beginning and cannot rely on delayed payment terms from Ben Jerrys. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors typically do not act as lenders to their franchisees.

Prospective franchisees should carefully consider their financial resources and ensure they have adequate funding to manage their inventory and operational costs without relying on trade credit from Ben Jerrys. This may involve securing external financing or having a substantial amount of working capital available.