Is the initial franchise fee for a Brain Balance center refundable?

According to Brain Balance's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee paid to Brain Balance is not refundable. Note 19 in Item 7 of the FDD states that 'None of the fees listed in this table and paid to us are refundable.' This means that once a prospective franchisee pays the initial franchise fee to Brain Balance, they cannot get that money back, regardless of whether they proceed with opening a franchise location.

However, the refundability of fees paid to third parties is different. According to the FDD, these refunds are determined by the individual refund policies of those third parties. The document anticipates that most of these fees will not be refundable. Examples of fees paid to third parties include those paid to general contractors, signage providers, utility companies, wages paid to staff, and fees paid to most professional service providers.

While most fees paid to third parties are typically non-refundable, the FDD indicates that in some instances, a franchisee may be able to obtain a refund for certain items, such as non-customized furniture or basic supplies purchased at a store. However, the ability to obtain such a refund will depend on the specific return and refund policies of each individual supplier. Therefore, franchisees should carefully review the refund policies of all third-party vendors before making any purchases.