Has Bens Soft Pretzels operated a Bens Soft Pretzels store themselves?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We began offering franchises in January 2013. We have not offered franchises in other lines of business. We have not operated a BEN'S SOFT PRETZELS store; however, affiliates related to us by common ownership have operated BEN'S SOFT PRETZELS stores since 2008. We focus on franchising independently owned stores and providing franchise support to franchisees. We also have a license program we offer to certain qualifying operators who have been in the food service business at least 2 years and our BEN'S SOFT PRETZELS business will be less than 20% over their overall business with that business arrangement qualifying as a fractional franchise under state and federal law ("BSP License Program"). We have no other business activities.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR, AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–10)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bens Soft Pretzels Franchise Disclosure Document, Bens Soft Pretzels has not directly operated a Bens Soft Pretzels store. However, the FDD states that affiliates related to Bens Soft Pretzels through common ownership have operated Bens Soft Pretzels stores since 2008. Bens Soft Pretzels focuses on franchising independently owned stores and providing support to franchisees.
In addition to traditional franchises, Bens Soft Pretzels also offers a license program to qualifying operators already in the food service business for at least two years, where the Bens Soft Pretzels business will constitute less than 20% of their overall business. This arrangement qualifies as a fractional franchise under state and federal law and is referred to as the "BSP License Program."
For a prospective franchisee, this means that while Bens Soft Pretzels corporate does not have direct experience running a store, affiliated entities do. This could be a benefit as franchisees can potentially learn from the experiences of these affiliated stores. The focus on franchising suggests that Bens Soft Pretzels's core competency lies in supporting franchisees rather than direct store management.