Besides the fees outlined in the City Publications Franchise Agreement, what other expenses is the franchisee responsible for when establishing and operating the franchised business?
City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
mation about the CITY PUBLICATIONS System and the services that Franchisor and its franchisees provide. Franchisor shall establish a website for the Franchised Business and a link between such website and the CITY PUBLICATIONS website. Franchisee is solely responsible for the maintenance of the website for the Franchised Business. Franchisor may (but is not required to) include at the CITY PUBLICATIONS website an interior page containing information about the Franchised Business. If Franchisor includes such information on the CITY PUBLICATIONS website, Franchisor may require Franchisee to prepare all or a portion of the page, at Franchisee's expense, using a template that Franchisor provides. All such information shall be subject to Franchisor's approval prior to posting. Franchisor retains the sole right to market on the Internet, including all use of websites, domain names, URL's, linking, meta-tags, marketing, auction sites, e-commerce and co-branding arrangements. Franchisee may be requested to provide Franchisor content for Franchisor's Internet marketing and shall be required to follow Franchisor's Intranet and Internet usage rules, policies and requirements. Franchisor retains the sole right to use the Marks on the Internet, including on websites, as domain names, directory addresses, search terms, meta-tags, and in connection with linking, marketing, cobranding and other arrangements, as well as social media and any digital marketing platform, Franchisor retains the sole right to approve any linking or other use of the CITY PUBLICATIONS website. Franchisee may not establish a presence
on, or market using, the Internet, including social media, in connection with the Franchised Business unless Franchisee has obtained Franchisor's express prior written consent and subject to Franchisor's specifications in connection with the same. With regard to any social media accounts maintained by Franchisee or its principal owners, such accounts shall identify Franchisee and its principal owner(s) as franchisees of Franchisor herein, Upon the termination or expiration of this Franchise Agreement, all social media activities of Franchisee relating to City Publications, whether on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram , LinkedIn, NextDoor or otherwise, shall immediately cease. In the event that Franchisee fails to do so, Franchisee shall be fined $1000 per month until resolved. In the event Franchisor approves an independent Franchisee website, Franchisor may require that such site shall be accessed only through Franchisor's home page.
D. Internet Communications
Franchisee shall not use any domain name or other identification except the domain name provided by the Franchisor for e-mail and other electronic communications for the franchise. All materials provided by the franchisee to the advertisers and prospects must meet the criteria set by the Franchisor. Any advertising via e-mail must be approved by the Franchisor. It is further agreed that from time to time, Franchisee may receive email addresses of residents within Franchisee's Exclusive Territory. It is agreed that any such list of those email addresses belongs to Franchisor, and Franchisee may not make any use of such list or addresses without the express approval of Franchisor. Franchisor has the right to require that any email blast or similar communication to such persons be done by the Franchisor, on behalf of the Franchisee, and the Franchisor will be compensated by Franchisee in accordance with Franchisor's fee arrangements for such services
SECTION 12. BOOKS & RECORDS
A. Requirement to Maintain
During the term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall maintain and preserve for the time period specified in the Manual, full, complete and accurate books, records and accounts in accordance with the accounting standards prescribed by Franchisor in the Manual or otherwise in writing.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–129)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Publications' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees incur several ongoing expenses in addition to the initial franchise fee. City Publications franchisees are responsible for maintaining their business website, which includes all associated costs. Franchisees may also need to pay for preparing content for City Publications' main website if the franchisor chooses to include information about the franchisee's business there.
Additionally, if franchisees choose to establish a commercial business location, they are responsible for lease payments. The franchisor has the right to make rental and other payments directly to the landlord. Franchisees are also responsible for the Graphic Services Fee, which may vary based on design specifications and economic conditions. Franchisees must also pay a Mailing List Rental Fee for using City Publications' mailing list for each Card Deck mailing.
Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee is responsible for several costs. These include any assumed name or equivalent registration filed with authorities that contains the City Publications name or any of the Marks. Franchisees are also responsible for transferring the Franchised Business telephone number to the franchisor. If the agreement is terminated due to the franchisee's default, the franchisee will be responsible for all damages, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by City Publications. Franchisees are also responsible for all damages, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by City Publications in obtaining injunctive or other relief for the enforcement of any provisions.