Are Coffee News franchisees required to enroll in Coffee News Online related services?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 2.1.2 In addition to the publication of hardcopy format of Periodical, Franchisee shall have the option to publish the digital format of the Periodical ("Coffee News Online"). A onetime enrollment fee to participate publication of Coffee News Online, in the amount of $100.00 for Chil Consulting and $75.00 for Shadowfox Design, shall be paid upon enrollment.
- 2.1.4.2 for Coffee News Online Basic Service (as later identify and defined in Paragraph 4.5.1), $25.00 (USD) per week.
- 2.1.4.3 for Coffee News Online Premium Service (as later identified and defined in Paragraph 4.5.2), $50.00 (USD) per week. 4.5 Coffee News Online Services. In addition to the hardcopy Periodical related services, we are proud to announce the release of Coffee News® Online, a new digital companion to our print publication. Coffee News® online will retain many of the same features as the hard copy format used worldwide, but with enhanced features, making Coffee News® more accessible to readers, offering greater marketing opportunities, and generating additional advertising revenue from existing advertisersas well as restaurants at a modest cost. To enroll the Coffee News® Online feature, there are currently two (2) options for enrollment: 4.6. Third Party Services. It is acknowledged by the parties that all services related to Coffee News Online are to be provided and performed by a third party contractor hired by the Franchisor, provided however, the Franchisee is responsible for uploading all the advertisements and What's Happening events content into the online feature system. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, any and all enrollment of Coffee News Online feature must be through the Franchisor.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 14–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Coffee News Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have the option to publish a digital format of the periodical, known as "Coffee News Online." Enrollment in Coffee News Online requires a one-time fee of $100.00 for Chil Consulting and $75.00 for Shadowfox Design, payable upon enrollment.
Coffee News Online offers two service options: Basic and Premium. The Basic service costs $25.00 per week, while the Premium service is priced at $50.00 per week. The Basic service provides the layout of current content, submitted ads, and "What's Happening" events, posted each Monday for publishers to send to their contacts weekly. It includes a dedicated URL for the online edition and provides up to 40 ad spaces for sale, along with a sponsorship ad each week. The Premium Service, designed for publishers without an email marketing application, includes email marketing services for the online edition, where the franchisee provides the email content to Chil Consulting and/or Shadow Fox Consulting.
While Coffee News franchisees are not required to enroll in Coffee News Online, if they choose to enroll, they must purchase the related services from either Shadow Fox Consulting or Chil Consulting through Coffee News. Franchisees are responsible for uploading all advertisements and "What's Happening" events content into the online feature system.