What is the Best Brains franchisor's obligation regarding initial fees before the franchise opens?

According to the 2025 Best Brains Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must pay certain fees to Best Brains before opening their franchise location. Specifically, franchisees are required to pay a Grand Opening Representative Fee of $3,500. This fee covers the costs associated with sending a corporate representative to the franchisee's grand opening, including travel, lodging, and other related expenses.

Additionally, franchisees have the option to secure the right to explore an additional franchise territory by entering into an option agreement with Best Brains. This agreement requires a nonrefundable deposit of $2,500, which grants the franchisee a 90-day period to find a suitable location and obtain a new franchise agreement for that territory. If the franchisee successfully secures a lease and a new franchise agreement within this period, the $2,500 deposit will be credited towards the initial franchise fee for the new territory. However, if no location and agreement are secured within the 90-day period, the $2,500 is retained by Best Brains as consideration for the rights granted under the option agreement.

Furthermore, franchisees must pay a Placement Test Review fee of $1,500 per test upon submission of a placement test. These fees are in addition to ongoing fees such as royalty fees and other operational costs that franchisees will incur after opening. It is important to note that Best Brains retains the right to increase these fees, but no more than once per fiscal year, based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.