What is the overall purpose of the Franchise Compliance Questionnaire for Ben Jerrys franchisees?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The overall purpose of the information collected by this questionnaire is to determine whether any statements or promises were made to you by employees or representatives of Ben & Jerry's that Ben & Jerry's has not authorized, and that may be untrue, inaccurate, or misleading. With that purpose in mind, you will find questions with regard to statements that may have been made to you during the application process*.*
In addition to questions relating to statements made to you during the application process, you will also find questions relating to the dates that certain documents (such as the Franchise Disclosure Document, Franchise Agreement, or Development Agreement) were received, or dates on which payment of fees were made. When purchasing a franchise, the timing of the receipt of documents, payment of franchisee fees, and other events are very important. Also, questions relating to your understanding of the Ben & Jerry's Agreement are contained in the questionnaire.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 134–358)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Ben Jerrys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Franchisee Compliance Questionnaire is used to determine if any unauthorized, untrue, inaccurate, or misleading statements or promises were made to the franchisee by Ben Jerrys employees or representatives during the application process. The questionnaire also addresses the timing of document receipt (such as the Franchise Disclosure Document, Franchise Agreement, or Development Agreement) and fee payments, as these dates are crucial when purchasing a franchise.
Prospective Ben Jerrys franchisees should understand that this questionnaire is designed to protect both the franchisee and the franchisor by ensuring transparency and compliance with franchise laws. By completing the questionnaire, franchisees confirm that they have not been given any misleading information that could affect their decision to invest in a Ben Jerrys franchise. This process helps to avoid potential disputes or misunderstandings later on in the franchise relationship.
It is important for franchisees to answer the questionnaire honestly and completely, as Ben Jerrys will rely on these responses. The completed questionnaire must be submitted when signing the Ben Jerrys Agreement and any related addenda. However, the document indicates that this questionnaire is not applicable to franchisees in certain states, including California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, or Wisconsin.