Does Bens Soft Pretzels provide opening support for my store?
Bens_Soft_Pretzels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ITEM 11 FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING
Except as listed below, the Franchisor is not required to provide you with any assistance:
Pre-Opening Assistance: Before you open your Store, we will:
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- Provide you with site selection criteria and general building, design and construction requirements for your Store (Franchise Agreement, Sections 5A and B).
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- Provide you with the Approved Suppliers and Approved Supplies List (Franchise Agreement, Section 6C).
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- Provide you with either a written copy or an electronic copy of the Manual (or electronic access to the Manual) (Franchise Agreement, Section 6I).
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- Provide the training programs described below (Franchise Agreement, Sections 7B and 7C).
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- Provide you with opening support for your Store and any additional support we determine necessary (Franchise Agreement, Sections 7B and 7C).
Ongoing Assistance. During the operation of your Store, we will:
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- Maintain the Advertising Fund (Franchise Agreement, Section 8A).
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- Provide updates to the Approved Suppliers and Approved Supplies Lists and continue to research and develop new products (Franchise Agreement, Section 6C).
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- Make periodic visits to your Store as we reasonably determine to be necessary to provide consultation and guidance (Franchise Agreement, Section 6G).
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- Provide refresher training courses, and regional meetings and conventions as we determine necessary and require you to attend. We will not charge franchisees and managers to attend
regularly scheduled refresher training courses. We may charge you a fee to attend (and for your employees to attend) regional meetings or conventions that we deem necessary. In this event, you must pay all expenses for you and your employees, including travel and living expenses (Franchise Agreement, Section 7E).
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- Provide ongoing communication and support and updates to the Manual (Franchise Agreement, Section 6C).
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- Provide technical assistance and support through the telephone (Franchise Agreement, Section 6C).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 23–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bens Soft Pretzels's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bens Soft Pretzels does provide opening support for your store. Specifically, Bens Soft Pretzels will provide you with opening support for your store and any additional support they determine necessary. This is part of the pre-opening assistance that Bens Soft Pretzels offers to new franchisees.
In addition to opening support, Bens Soft Pretzels offers several other forms of pre-opening assistance. This includes providing site selection criteria, general building design and construction requirements, the approved supplier list, and the franchise operations manual. Bens Soft Pretzels also provides the initial training programs to help franchisees get their business started.
Beyond the initial opening period, Bens Soft Pretzels also provides ongoing assistance during the operation of your store. This includes maintaining the advertising fund, providing updates to the approved supplier list, making periodic visits to your store for consultation, providing refresher training courses, and offering ongoing communication, support, and updates to the manual. They also provide technical assistance and support through the telephone.