Who is responsible for attorneys' fees associated with Buff City Soap arbitration?

According to Buff City Soap's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, each party involved in an arbitration is responsible for their own attorneys' fees. This means that if a franchisee and Buff City Soap enter into arbitration, each side will bear the cost of their respective legal representation.

This arrangement is fairly common in franchising, as it avoids the potential for one party to be saddled with the other's legal expenses, which could be substantial. It also encourages both parties to carefully consider the merits of their case before pursuing arbitration, as they know they will be responsible for their own legal bills.

In addition to attorneys' fees, each party is also responsible for the costs they incur as per the rules established by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), the organization from whose panels the arbitrator will be chosen. These costs could include filing fees, expert witness fees, and other expenses related to presenting their case in arbitration. Franchisees should familiarize themselves with the CPR rules to understand the potential costs involved.