What expenses are included in the $4.10 Reservation Fee for Budget?

According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the $4.10 Reservation Fee covers several categories of expenses. This fee applies to reservations made through phone/GDS equipment, phone calls, or internet/direct link, including those made via budget.com.

Specifically, the $4.10 fee includes corporate overhead expenses, promotional expenses for budget.com, and customer complaint service expenses. This means that a portion of the fee goes towards the general operational costs of the Budget corporation, marketing and advertising efforts focused on driving online reservations, and the costs associated with handling and resolving customer complaints.

For a prospective Budget franchisee, understanding what this fee covers is crucial for budgeting and financial planning. It clarifies that a portion of the reservation revenue is allocated to these specific corporate functions, rather than being retained by the franchisee. This fee structure is typical in franchise systems where the franchisor provides centralized services and support to all franchisees.