If a Bhc Master Franchisee requests a statement of receipts and expenditures of the aggregate Marketing and Promotion Fees, what is the deadline for the Master Franchisee to make this request in writing?

According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Master Franchisee must submit a written request for a statement of receipts and expenditures of the aggregate Marketing and Promotion Fees no later than March 31 of any calendar year. If this condition is met, Bhc will provide the Master Franchisee with the statement no later than May 31 of the same calendar year. The statement will detail the receipts and expenditures of the aggregate Marketing and Promotion Fees relating to the preceding calendar year and will be certified as correct by one of Bhc's officers.

This means that a Bhc Master Franchisee needs to be proactive and timely in requesting this financial information. Missing the March 31 deadline would mean forfeiting the right to receive the statement for that year. This requirement ensures that Bhc has adequate time to compile and certify the financial statement before providing it to the Master Franchisee.

This level of transparency regarding marketing fund expenditures is fairly common in franchising, as franchisees often contribute a percentage of their gross sales to these funds. Franchisees want to ensure their contributions are being used effectively to promote the brand. The statement's certification by a Bhc officer adds an extra layer of assurance regarding its accuracy.