Is attendance at the annual convention mandatory for Bens Soft Pretzels franchisees?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convention/National Conference Fee | Currently $500 | When Invoiced | You must pay a convention registration fee of $500 regardless of whether you attend. |
- (3) Ongoing Training. You must participate, if we require, in up to five days per calendar year of refresher training in the operations and marketing of the Store. The refresher training may or may not take place at an annual convention or business meeting of franchisees which we can require you to attend once per calendar year. Currently there is a required $500 fee for the annual convention per franchisee. There is no fee for additional training programs or meetings, but you must pay all your travel and living expenses.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 12–16)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bens Soft Pretzels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, attendance at the annual convention is not explicitly mandatory, but franchisees must pay a convention registration fee of $500 regardless of whether they attend. This fee is due when invoiced.
Bens Soft Pretzels franchisees are required to participate in up to five days per calendar year of refresher training, if required by the company, concerning store operations and marketing. This training may occur at the annual convention or another business meeting, which Bens Soft Pretzels can require franchisees to attend once per calendar year. There is a $500 fee for the annual convention per franchisee. Franchisees are responsible for covering their own travel and living expenses for any required training programs or meetings.
While attendance at the annual convention itself may be optional, the mandatory $500 fee means franchisees will incur this cost whether or not they choose to attend. This is somewhat unusual, as many franchises only charge convention fees for those who actually attend. Prospective franchisees should factor this cost into their financial projections and consider whether the benefits of attending the convention (training, networking, etc.) justify the expense, given that the fee is unavoidable.