Does Ben Jerrys provide any assistance in securing financing?
Ben_Jerrys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ue or otherwise make available to you any form of trade credit for the Ben & Jerry's Products, or any other products or services, purchased from us.
ITEM 11 FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING
Except as listed below, we are not required to provide you with any assistance.
Pre-Opening Obligations
We are required by the Preliminary Agreement, Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement to provide the following types of assistance to you before you open the Shop:
Preliminary Agreement
If you sign a Preliminary Agreement, we will provide the following types of assistance and services to you:
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- We will review your request for a location and preliminary design approval, if you will lease or sublease the premises. (Preliminary Agreement § 6)
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- We will also review the lease or sublease to ensure that the lease contains the provisions required in the Preliminary Agreement, and that the duration of the lease is the same as
the term of your Franchise Agreement. (Preliminary Agreement § 7) The current form of required Lease Rider appears as Exhibit J to this Disclosure Document.
Franchise Agreement
Before you open the Shop, we will provide the following types of assistance and services to you:
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- We will make available standardized plans and specifications for the Shop, which will include prototype interior design and layout, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, and signs and graphics. We also have the right to designate one or more design firms and architectural firms for use by all franchisees developing new Ben & Jerry's Shops. (Franchise Agreement §§ 3.1 and 5.1)
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- We will provide our initial training program ("Scoop University," "Scoop U," or "Scoop U Training") for up to 3 trainees for any Scoop Shop within the first 6 months of opening. (Franchise Agreement § 3.2). In certain circumstances, Scoop U Training may occur virtually, with the curriculum modified accordingly.
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- We will provide on-site pre-opening and opening supervision and training as we deem advisable. (Franchise Agreement § 3.3)
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- We will provide you permission to access the Manual by electronic means (such as through the Ben & Jerry's Extranet) for the term of your franchise. (Franchise Agreement § 3.5)
Development Agreement
Before you open each Scoop Shop, we will provide the following types of assistance and services to you:
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- Authorize or deny your proposed site for each Scoop Shop.
Source: Item 10 — FINANCING (FDD page 43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Ben Jerrys states that they are not required to provide franchisees with any assistance except as listed in Item 11. The listed assistance pertains to pre-opening obligations outlined in the Preliminary Agreement, Franchise Agreement, and Development Agreement. These obligations include reviewing location requests and preliminary designs, reviewing leases, providing standardized plans and specifications for the shop, initial training programs, on-site supervision and training, and access to the Ben & Jerry's manual.
Ben Jerrys will review a franchisee's request for a location and preliminary design approval if the franchisee intends to lease or sublease the premises. They will also review the lease or sublease to ensure it contains the provisions required in the Preliminary Agreement and that the lease duration matches the Franchise Agreement term. Ben Jerrys will make available standardized plans and specifications for the shop, including prototype interior design and layout, fixtures, equipment, furnishings, and signs and graphics.
Ben Jerrys will provide an initial training program, called "Scoop University", for up to three trainees for any Scoop Shop within the first 6 months of opening. In certain circumstances, this training may occur virtually, with the curriculum modified accordingly. Ben Jerrys will also provide on-site pre-opening and opening supervision and training as they deem advisable. Franchisees will be granted permission to access the Ben & Jerry's Manual electronically for the term of their franchise. The Development Agreement does not require Ben Jerrys to provide any other assistance or services during the operation of the Scoop Shop.
However, the FDD does not explicitly state whether Ben Jerrys offers financial assistance to franchisees. A prospective franchisee should contact Ben Jerrys directly to inquire about any available financing options or assistance programs.