Is a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee required to offer the Club Membership service plan?
Benjamin_Franklin_Plumbing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Warranty and Service Plans. You are required to provide the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBING customer warranty and satisfaction guarantee to each customer and comply with the requirements of the warranty/guarantee program, as set forth in the Brand Appendix and/or the Operations Manual. You are also required to offer our Club Membership, a service plan for cleaning and general maintenance.
The home warranty and service plans are subject to various state and local regulatory requirements and approvals, and, as such, may not be available to all franchisees, or if available, may not be available to all franchisees on the same terms or in all locations.
We reserve the right to provide you with the materials needed to establish and maintain a service club for customers of your Franchised Business, to the extent service clubs are permitted by applicable law. Similarly, we reserve the right to provide you with the materials needed to offer your customers repair and replacement plans through our affiliates. The service club and the repair and replacement plans may be expanded to offer maintenance products delivered directly to customers of your Franchised Business via mail, electronic communications, courier service, or other methods.
Source: Item 16 — RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THE FRANCHISEE MAY SELL (FDD pages 67–68)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to offer the Club Membership service plan. This plan is described as a service plan for cleaning and general maintenance. This requirement is part of a broader obligation to offer and sell all products and services that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing designates as required items.
However, the FDD also notes that the availability of the Club Membership, along with other home warranty and service plans, may be subject to various state and local regulatory requirements and approvals. This means that the Club Membership may not be available to all Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisees, or it may not be available on the same terms or in all locations.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing also retains the right to provide franchisees with the materials needed to establish and maintain a service club for customers, to the extent that service clubs are permitted by applicable law. They also reserve the right to provide materials needed to offer repair and replacement plans through their affiliates. These service clubs and repair/replacement plans may be expanded to offer maintenance products delivered directly to customers via mail, electronic communications, courier service, or other methods. This suggests that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has significant control over the structure and offerings related to the Club Membership and similar service plans, and franchisees must adhere to their guidelines.