Is the initial City Publications franchise fee negotiable?
City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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Starting in 2025 we are also offering a print advertising franchise model in which the product is a booklet of advertisements, rather than a deck of loose individual card advertisements. We expect to offer it both to current City Publication franchisees as well as those not then a part of our franchise system. For an existing City Publications franchisee, there would not be any additional franchise fee or additional franchise agreement, and you would be able to offer the booklet product anywhere within your territory. For a new franchisee, you would pay an initial franchise fee of $29,000 and sign a franchise agreement. We are offering this new product in part to reach smaller towns and territories. As with our traditional card deck model, we and our affiliate would do the graphic design, printing and mailing, for a fee.
Our Predecessors and Affiliates
We have one Predecessor and no parent company. Our Predecessor, Pride of the City, Inc. operated one business in Atlanta, Georgia that was similar to the franchised businesses offered through this Disclosure Document. In addition, from March 2002 until April 2004, our Predecessor offered licenses for the establishment of businesses under the "The Pride of the City" trademark, which were similar to the franchised businesses offered through this Disclosure Document. None of those licensees are still operating.
We have one Affiliate, City Publications Service, Inc. (the "Affiliate"). Our Affiliate shares our offices at 1300 Parkwood Circle SE, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30339.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD page 10)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 City Publications Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee is not explicitly stated as negotiable. However, Item 5 indicates that the franchise fee varies. For a new franchisee of the print advertising booklet model, the initial franchise fee is $29,000. For existing City Publications franchisees adding the booklet product, there is no additional franchise fee.
Item 7's notes section refers to Item 5 regarding the franchise fee, stating that the fee includes access to proprietary materials, an initial supply of sales materials, a designated website, and exclusive rights to distribute card decks and other approved products within the territory. The note specifies that the initial franchise fee is non-refundable.
While the FDD does not explicitly state that the initial franchise fee is negotiable, the statement that it "varies as described in ITEM 5" suggests that there may be circumstances under which the fee could be different. A prospective franchisee should inquire with City Publications about any potential variations or conditions that might affect the initial franchise fee, despite the general statement that it is non-refundable.