What is the payment schedule for the Advertising Fund Fee for Bens Soft Pretzels franchisees?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
als that we have disapproved.
Within three months of the opening of your Store, you must spend a minimum of $1,000-$5,000 on local advertising, marketing and promotion of the opening of the Store in accordance with an opening marketing plan approved by us. These grand opening expenditures are in addition to the Advertising Fund contributions specified above. You also are required to spend 2% of the Gross Sales of your Store on local advertising. Upon our request, you must provide us with itemization and proof of marketing and an accounting of the monies that you have spent for approved grand opening advertising and ongoing local marketing. If you fail to make the required expenditure, we have the right to collect and contribute the defic
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 23–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Bens Soft Pretzels Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to contribute to both a grand opening local advertising spend and an ongoing local advertising spend. Within three months of opening their store, franchisees must spend between $1,000 and $5,000 on local advertising, marketing, and promotion, adhering to an opening marketing plan approved by Bens Soft Pretzels.
In addition to the initial grand opening spend, franchisees are obligated to spend 2% of their store's gross sales on local advertising. Franchisees must provide Bens Soft Pretzels with itemized proof of these marketing expenditures and an accounting of the funds spent on approved grand opening advertising and ongoing local marketing upon request.
If a franchisee fails to meet the required local advertising expenditure, Bens Soft Pretzels reserves the right to collect the deficiency and contribute it to the Advertising Fund. This ensures that all franchisees are contributing their fair share to local marketing efforts, and that the brand is consistently promoted in each market.