Can Bens Soft Pretzels charge franchisees a fee to attend regional meetings or conventions?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
of your Store.
Ongoing Training. You must participate in, if we require, 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. The fee for additional training programs or meetings is provided in Item 6 plus you pay all your travel and living expenses.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 23–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bens Soft Pretzels Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may be required to attend refresher training, which could take place at an annual convention or business meeting, up to once per calendar year. Item 6 of the FDD outlines the fees for additional training programs or meetings, and franchisees are responsible for their own travel and living expenses.
Bens Soft Pretzels will not charge franchisees and managers to attend regularly scheduled refresher training courses. However, the document indicates that they may charge fees for additional training programs or meetings beyond the regularly scheduled refresher training courses.
This means that while basic refresher training is provided without additional fees, franchisees should anticipate potential costs for attending other optional or specialized training events. It is important to factor in these potential expenses, along with travel and accommodation costs, when budgeting for the franchise.