Is a Bens Soft Pretzels franchisee required to attend annual meetings, conventions, or conferences?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD page 34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bens Soft Pretzels Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may be required to attend an annual convention or business meeting. Bens Soft Pretzels can require franchisees to participate in up to five days per calendar year of refresher training in operations and marketing. This refresher training may occur at an annual convention or business meeting.
If Bens Soft Pretzels requires a franchisee to attend additional training programs or meetings, the franchisee must pay the fees outlined in Item 6 of the FDD, as well as cover all travel and living expenses. This means that franchisees need to budget not only for the franchise fees but also for ongoing training and meeting costs.
This requirement is fairly standard in the franchise industry, as franchisors often hold annual meetings to update franchisees on new products, marketing strategies, and operational improvements. While attendance may not always be mandatory, Bens Soft Pretzels franchisees should be prepared to participate in such events and factor the associated costs into their business planning.