What is Brown's Chicken's discretion regarding advertising?
Browns_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ng as Brown may deem necessary or appropriate, in its sole discretion. Brown shall, from time to time, formulate, develop, produce and conduct regional advertising and promotion programs in such form and media as it determines, in its sole discretion, to be most effective.
Franchisee shall pay to the Advertising Fund, as hereinafter provided, such amount as may be designated by Brown from time to time by written notice to Franchisee, not to exceed four percent (4%) of the Gross Sales (as hereinafter defined) of the Store. The Advertising Fund contribution shall be paid by Franchisee on Gross Sales for each Monday through Sunday weekly period together with the royalty fee as set forth in Paragraph l9.A of this Agreement. Franchisee's payments to the Advertising Fund shall be made by electronic transfer or automatic debit from Franchisee's bank account to the Advertising Fund account, as set forth in Paragraph 19.F. below.
Brown shall direct all advertising programs financed by the Advertising Fund, with sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials and endorsements used therein, and the geographic, market and media placement and allocation thereof. Franchisee agrees that the Advertising Fund may be used to meet any and all costs of formulating, administering, maintaining, directing, preparing and producing regional, multi-regional or local advertising materials, programs and public relations activities, including, without limitation, the costs of producing video, audio and written advertising materials; electronic media, developing, implementing, and maintaining an electronic commerce Website and/or related strategies; administering multi-regional advertising programs; purchasing trade journal, direct mail and other media advertising; and employing advertising agencies; supporting public relations, market research and marketing activities; and providing advertising and marketing materials and menus to BROWN'S Stores. The Advertising Fund shall furnish Franchisee with approved advertising materials at its direct cost of producing such advertising materials.
The Advertising Fund is not Brown's asset. Although the Advertising Fund is not a trust, Brown will hold all Advertising Fund contributions for the benefit of the contributors and use contributions only for the purposes described in this Agreement. Brown does not owe any fiduciary obligation to Franchisee for administering the Advertising Fund or for any other reason. The Advertising Fund shall be accounted for separately from the other funds of Brown and shall not be used to defray any of Brown's general operating expenses, except for such reasonable salaries, administrative costs and overhead as Brown may incur in activities reasonably related to the administration of the Advertising Fund and its advertising programs (including, without limitation, conducting market research, preparing advertising and marketing materials and collecting and accounting for contributions to the Advertising Fund). Brown may spend in any fiscal year an amount greater or less than the aggregate contribution of BROWN'S Stores to the Advertising Fund in that year and the Advertising Fund may borrow from Brown or other lenders to cover deficits of the Advertising Fund or cause the Advertising Fund to invest
any surplus for future use by the Advertising Fund. Franchisee authorizes Brown to collect for remission to the Advertising Fund any advertising monies or credits offered by any supplier to Franchisee based upon purchases by Franchisee. All interest earned on monies contributed to the Advertising Fund will be used to pay advertising costs of the Advertising Fund before other assets of the Advertising Fund are expended. A statement of monies collected and costs incurred by the Advertising Fund shall be prepared annually by Brown and shall be furnished to Franchisee upon written request.
Franchisee understands and acknowledges that the Advertising Fund is intended to maximize recognition of the Marks and patronage of BROWN'S Stores. Although Brown will endeavor to utilize the Advertising Fund to develop advertising and marketing materials, and to place advertising in a manner, that will benefit all BROWN'S Stores, Brown undertakes no obligation to ensure that expenditures by the Advertising Fund in or affecting any geographic area are proportionate or equivalent to contributions to the Advertising Fund by BROWN'S Stores operating in that geographic area or that any BROWN'S Store will benefit directly or in proportion to its contribution to the Advertising Fund from the development of advertising and marketing materials or the placement of advertising. Except as expressly provided in this Section 11, Brown assumes no direct or indirect liability or obligation to Franchisee with respect to the maintenance, direction or administration of the Advertising Fund. Franchisee agrees and acknowledges that Brown has no fiduciary obligation to Franchisee or any other BROWN's Store in connection with the establishment of the Advertising Fund or the collection, control or administration of monies paid into the Advertising Fund.
Brown reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate or discontinue the Advertising Fund upon thirty (30) days' written notice to Franchisee. All unspent monies on the date of termination or discontinuance shall be distributed to franchisees of Brown in proportion to their respective contributions made to the Advertising Fund during the previous twelve (12) month period. Brown shall have the right to reinstate the Advertising Fund upon the same terms and conditions herein set forth upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Franchisee.
B. By Franchisee.
- (1) Grand Opening and Marketing Deposit. Franchisee shall conduct a Grand Opening advertising campaign within thirty (30) days of opening his BROWN's Store. Upon execution of this Agreement, Franchisee shall deposit with Brown a Marketing Deposit in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000).
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD page 43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Browns Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Browns Chicken has broad discretion over advertising, particularly concerning the Advertising Fund. Browns Chicken directs all advertising programs financed by the Advertising Fund and has sole discretion over the creative concepts, materials, endorsements, geographic placement, market placement, and media allocation. The Advertising Fund can be used for various costs related to advertising, marketing, and public relations activities, including producing materials, electronic media, administering programs, purchasing media advertising, employing agencies, and providing materials to Browns Chicken stores.
Browns Chicken is not obligated to ensure that advertising expenditures in any geographic area are proportionate to the contributions from Browns Chicken stores in that area, nor is there an obligation to ensure that any Browns Chicken store will benefit directly or in proportion to its contribution. Browns Chicken assumes no direct or indirect liability to the franchisee regarding the Advertising Fund's maintenance, direction, or administration and has no fiduciary obligation to the franchisee or any Browns Chicken store in connection with the Advertising Fund.
Browns Chicken also reserves the right to terminate or discontinue the Advertising Fund with thirty days' written notice to the franchisee. In the event of termination, unspent monies will be distributed to franchisees in proportion to their contributions to the fund over the previous twelve-month period. Browns Chicken can reinstate the Advertising Fund under the same terms with thirty days' prior written notice.
The franchisee is also required to conduct a Grand Opening advertising campaign within 30 days of opening their Browns Chicken store and must deposit $1,000 with Browns Chicken to be used for the grand opening and initial local advertising. For ongoing local advertising, franchisees must list and advertise the store in classified telephone directories using Browns Chicken's standard form. All local advertising and promotional materials not prepared or previously approved by Browns Chicken must be submitted for approval, which is deemed granted if written disapproval is not received within 15 days. Franchisees cannot use disapproved advertising or alternative distribution channels without prior written permission from Browns Chicken.