Does Buns On Fire require approval of advertising materials?
Buns_On_Fire Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee1 | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of Gross Revenue2 | Payable monthly. This will be collected as of the first week of the month. | Royalty Fees are payable by automatic debit, and funds must be made available in your account for withdrawal. All monthly earnings reports are due by the fifth of each month for the previous month. |
| Proprietary Marketing Fund | 1% of Gross Revenue | Payable monthly. This will be collected as of the first week of the month. | We will use this to cover, among other things, collection of customer data, customer feedback and mystery shopping. Royalty Fees are payable by automatic debit, and funds must be made available in your account for withdrawal. All monthly earnings reports are due by the fifth of each month for the previous month. |
| Local Advertising and Marketing | 1% of Gross Revenue | Must be spent monthly - paid directly to advertising vendors. | The amount you spend on marketing must be reported to us on a quarterly basis. This is in addition to your Marketing Fund contributions. Any advertising you propose to use must be approved by us. All advertising submitted to us for our review will become our property. |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 12–16)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Buns On Fire Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to obtain approval for any advertising they propose to use. This requirement is tied to the Local Advertising and Marketing fee, which is set at 1% of Gross Revenue and must be spent monthly, paid directly to advertising vendors. Franchisees must report their marketing spend to Buns On Fire on a quarterly basis, in addition to their Marketing Fund contributions.
The stipulation that "any advertising you propose to use must be approved by us" means that franchisees cannot independently create and deploy marketing materials without prior authorization from Buns On Fire. This ensures brand consistency and adherence to the company's marketing standards. Furthermore, "all advertising submitted to us for our review will become our property," indicating that Buns On Fire retains ownership of the advertising materials submitted for approval.
This level of control over advertising is common in franchising, as franchisors seek to maintain a uniform brand image and protect their trademarks. However, it also means that franchisees have limited autonomy in their local marketing efforts and must work within the guidelines set by Buns On Fire. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the specific approval process, turnaround times, and any restrictions on advertising content to fully understand the implications of this requirement.