What are the Cinnabon franchisee's obligations regarding the payment of advertising fees (Item 6) and how does this relate to the franchisor's advertising programs (Item 11)?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We will allocate your Advertising Contributions to a fund for the advertising and promotion of the Bakeries, Marks, and the System (the "Ad Fund"). Currently, you must make an Advertising Contribution to the Ad Fund in the amount of 2.5% of Net Sales for Bakeries located in Other Locations, 3% of Net Sales for Bakeries located in Streetside Locations, and 3% of Net Sales for all Swirl Bakeries. We do not collect an Advertising Contribution for Express Bakeries in a Schlotzsky's. We may increase the Advertising Contribution by notice to franchisees. However, your required Advertising Contribution and Local Marketing Obligation will collectively not exceed 5% of your Net Sales. Your Advertising Contribution is in addition to your Local Marketing Obligation (as defined below) and your Grand Opening Obligation (as defined below).
You are required to participate in any local, regional, or national cooperative advertising group consisting of other Bakeries (an "Advertising Cooperative") that we specify, when and if any of these groups are created. Currently, we do not have any
Advertising Cooperatives. We will designate the particular Advertising Cooperative(s) in which you may be required to participate (which designations may be based on, without limitation, the particular Designated Market Area or the Area of Dominant Influence, as those terms are used in the advertising industry, where your franchise is located). If we collect your entire Local Marketing Obligation, we will not require you to participate in an Advertising Cooperative. You will enter into any formal agreements with the other franchisees of the System and/or us, as the case may be, as is necessary or appropriate to accomplish the goals of the Advertising Cooperative and you must abide by the formal agreements and decisions that we authorize the Advertising Cooperative to make on advertising and marketing in the area covered by the Advertising Cooperative.
You must spend the Grand Opening Obligation on grand opening advertising promoting your Bakery during the period beginning 90 days before you open the Bakery and ending 90 days after you open the Bakery. Alternatively, we may, in our sole discretion, require you to pay the Grand Opening Obligation to us or the Ad Fund for us to spend in accordance with a grand opening advertising plan that we designate or approve. The Grand Opening Obligation is at least (i) $3,000 for a Bakery in an Other Location, (ii) $7,500 for a Bakery in a Streetside Location, (iii) $6,000 for a Co-Branded Bakery in an Other Location (which covers both brands), and (iv) $15,000 ($25,000 if the Bakery is one of your first four Co-Branded Bakeries in an Emerging Market) for a Co-Branded Bakery in a Streetside Location (which covers both brands).
If we require you to conduct the grand opening advertising, you must (a) obtain our written approval for your grand opening advertising plan at least 30 days prior to the scheduled start date of such advertising campaign and (b) implement the grand opening advertising plan that we approve or designate (which may be different from what you propose), using only Advertising and Promotional Content and related media that we have approved.
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have several advertising-related obligations. Cinnabon allocates advertising contributions to a fund for advertising and promotion of bakeries, marks, and the system. The advertising contribution is 2.5% of net sales for bakeries in "Other Locations" and 3% of net sales for bakeries in "Streetside Locations", and 3% of Net Sales for all Swirl Bakeries. However, Cinnabon does not collect an advertising contribution for Express Bakeries in a Schlotzsky's. These percentages can be increased with notice, but the total advertising contribution and local marketing obligation will not exceed 5% of net sales. The advertising contribution is in addition to the local marketing obligation and the grand opening obligation.
Cinnabon franchisees must also participate in any local, regional, or national cooperative advertising group if the company specifies. Currently, there aren't any advertising cooperatives. If Cinnabon collects the entire local marketing obligation, franchisees won't be required to participate in an advertising cooperative. Franchisees will need to enter formal agreements to accomplish the goals of the advertising cooperative and abide by the decisions that Cinnabon authorizes the advertising cooperative to make on advertising and marketing in the covered area.
For grand opening advertising, franchisees must spend a specified amount on advertising promoting their bakery during the period beginning 90 days before opening and ending 90 days after opening. The grand opening obligation is at least $3,000 for a bakery in an Other Location, $7,500 for a bakery in a Streetside Location, $6,000 for a Co-Branded Bakery in an Other Location, and $15,000 ($25,000 if the bakery is one of the first four Co-Branded Bakeries in an Emerging Market) for a Co-Branded Bakery in a Streetside Location. Cinnabon may require franchisees to pay the grand opening obligation to them or the Ad Fund to spend in accordance with a grand opening advertising plan that they designate or approve. If the franchisee conducts the grand opening advertising, they must obtain written approval for their plan at least 30 days prior to the start date and implement the approved plan using only approved content.