factual

Besides maintaining the brand website, what other advertising obligations does Chocolate Bash have?

Chocolate_Bash Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

Our obligation. We will use the Marketing Fund only for marketing and related purposes and costs. Media coverage is primarily local. We use outside vendors and consultants to produce advertising. We are not required to spend any amount of advertising in the area or territory where any particular franchisee is located. We will maintain the brand website (which will be paid for by the Marketing Fund). We have no other obligation to conduct advertising.

Your own advertising material. You may use your own advertising or marketing material only with our approval. To obtain our approval, you must submit any proposed advertising or marketing material at least 14 days prior to use. If we do not respond, the material is deemed rejected. If you develop any advertising or marketing materials, we may use those materials for any purpose, without any payment to you.

Advertising council. We do not have an advertising council composed of franchisees. The franchise agreement does not give us the power to form an advertising council.

Local or Regional Advertising Cooperatives. We do not currently have any local or regional advertising cooperatives. We have the right to require you to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative. We will define the area of the cooperative based on media markets, or other geographic criteria that we deem appropriate. Each franchisee in the area would have one vote per outlet (unless the franchisee is in default under its franchise agreement). The amount you must contribute to the cooperative will be determined by vote of the members, but not less than 1% of gross sales. If our own outlets are members of a cooperative, they must contribute to the cooperative on the same basis as franchisees, and they will vote on the same basis as other members. If our outlets have controlling voting power, there is no maximum on fees that could be imposed. We administer the cooperative, but we have the right to delegate responsibility for administration to an outside company such as an advertising agency or accounting firm, or to the franchisee members of the cooperative. We have the right to require the cooperative to operate from written bylaws or other governing documents that we determine. The documents are not

currently available for you to review. Cooperatives will prepare annual financial statements which will be made available for review only by us and by the members of cooperative. We have the power to require cooperatives to be formed, changed, dissolved, or merged.

Advertising Fund. You and all other franchisees must contribute to our Marketing Fund. Your contribution is 1% of gross sales per week. We reserve the right to have other franchisees contribute a different amount or at a different rate. Outlets that we own are not obligated to contribute to the Marketing Fund. We administer the fund. The fund is not audited. We will make unaudited annual financial statements available to you upon request.

If less than all marketing funds are spent in the fiscal year in which they accrue, the money will remain in the Marketing Fund to be spent in the next year. In 2023 we spend all the funds collected for the Marketing Fund.

No money from the Marketing Fund is spent principally to solicit new franchise sales.

Market introduction plan. You must develop a market introduction plan and obtain our approval of the plan at least 30 days before the projected opening date of your business.

Required spending. After you open, you must spend at least 4% of gross sales each month on marketing your business.

Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 19–25)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to Chocolate Bash's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the company has limited advertising obligations beyond maintaining the brand website. Chocolate Bash is not required to spend any specific amount on advertising in a franchisee's area or territory. However, franchisees must contribute 1% of gross sales per week to the Marketing Fund, which Chocolate Bash administers and uses for marketing and related costs.

Chocolate Bash franchisees are required to spend a minimum of 4% of gross sales each month on local marketing efforts after opening their business. Franchisees must also develop a market introduction plan for their specific location and secure Chocolate Bash's approval at least 30 days before opening. While franchisees can create their own advertising materials, they must submit them to Chocolate Bash for approval at least 14 days before use; failure to receive a response within that timeframe means the material is rejected.

Chocolate Bash has the right to require franchisees to participate in local or regional advertising cooperatives. The contribution amount to these cooperatives will be determined by the members' vote but cannot be less than 1% of gross sales. If Chocolate Bash's own outlets are part of the cooperative, they must contribute on the same basis as franchisees and vote accordingly. If Chocolate Bash outlets have controlling voting power, there is no limit to the fees that could be imposed. Chocolate Bash also has the power to form, change, dissolve, or merge these cooperatives.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.