Under what circumstances is the City Publications transfer fee waived?

According to the 2025 City Publications Franchise Disclosure Document, the transfer fees are collectable to the extent that they reflect the franchisor's reasonable estimated or actual costs in effecting a transfer. This means City Publications can only charge a transfer fee that covers the expenses they incur during the transfer process.

For a prospective franchisee, this implies that the transfer fee should be justifiable and transparent. City Publications cannot impose an arbitrary or inflated transfer fee. The fee must be tied to the actual costs they bear in facilitating the transfer, such as administrative work, legal reviews, or training of the new franchisee.

However, the FDD excerpt does not specify the exact situations where a transfer fee might be completely waived. It only clarifies that the fee must be reasonable and cost-based. To gain a comprehensive understanding of potential waiver scenarios, a prospective franchisee should inquire directly with City Publications about their specific policies regarding transfer fee waivers, including any conditions or circumstances under which a waiver may be granted.