Are the financial statements for Beverly Anns Cookie audited?

According to the 2025 Beverly Anns Cookie Franchise Disclosure Document, the Brand Fund, which may be used for various expenses, including administrative costs and audits, is not audited. The FDD states that because the fund is not audited, audited financial statements are not available to Beverly Ann's franchisees. However, Beverly Ann's Cookie will provide franchisees with an annual accounting of the Brand Fund, detailing how the proceeds were spent in the previous year, upon written request.

This means that prospective Beverly Ann's Cookie franchisees will not have access to audited financial statements related to the Brand Fund. While the franchisor will provide an annual accounting of the fund's expenditures, this accounting is not subject to the scrutiny of an independent audit.

It is important for potential franchisees to understand the implications of not having audited financial statements for the Brand Fund. While an annual accounting provides some transparency, an audit offers a higher level of assurance regarding the accuracy and reliability of the financial information. Franchisees may want to inquire further about the Brand Fund's management and oversight processes to gain a better understanding of how the funds are handled. Franchisees should also be aware that Beverly Ann's Cookie does not guarantee that advertising expenditures from the Brand Fund will directly benefit any franchisee.