What is the current call center fee per call for a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise?
Benjamin_Franklin_Plumbing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All telephone calls to the Franchised Business must be answered by a "live" voice. You cannot have calls answered by answering machines, voicemail, or digital assistants. We may require or prohibit forwarding calls to mobile phones. Beginning on the Original Opening Date and continuing for 36 months thereafter (the "Initial 3-Year Period"), you are required to use a designated call center (the "Call Center") for incoming overflow, after hours, and weekend calls through our designated vendor, currently Call Point. If your customer conversion rate falls below seventy percent (70%) in the Initial 3 Year Period, we may require that you use Call Point, or another designated vendor as your primary answering service to meet the "live" voice requirement. You will pay all fees directly to Call Point. As of the date of this disclosure document, the Call Center Fee is as shown in the table.
If we provide the Call Center services, we reserve the right to increase the Call Center Fee, up to 10% of what Call Point was charging, to charge a minimum fee for this service, and to change the timing of payment of the fee. We also reserve the right to terminate your access to the Call Center or to cancel the Call Center program. We will provide you with at least 30 days' notice prior to terminating the Call Center, modifying the Call Center Fee, or changing the timing of payment.
Upon expiration of the Initial 3-Year Period, you may discontinue use of the designated Call Center, but we retain the right to re-impose the requirement if you fail to meet your Minimum Performance Requirements (see Item 12) or the "live" voice requirement.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 18–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to use a designated call center for incoming overflow, after-hours, and weekend calls for the first 36 months after their Original Opening Date. This call center is managed through a designated vendor, currently Call Point, and franchisees pay the fees directly to Call Point. The FDD does not specify the exact dollar amount of the Call Center Fee.
However, the FDD does state that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing reserves the right to increase the Call Center Fee if they provide the call center services, up to 10% of what Call Point was charging, to charge a minimum fee for this service, and to change the timing of payment of the fee. They will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to terminating the Call Center, modifying the Call Center Fee, or changing the timing of payment.
After the initial 3-year period, franchisees may discontinue using the designated Call Center, but Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can re-impose the requirement if the franchisee fails to meet Minimum Performance Requirements or the "live" voice requirement. Prospective franchisees should inquire with the franchisor about the current fee structure and any potential changes to the call center program.