What is the Coffee News franchisee's responsibility regarding the online version of Coffee News?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
4.5.1. Basic service:
- 4.5.1.1 Provides the layout of current content, submitted ads and What's Happening events dated and posted for each Monday for publishers to send to their contacts each week.
- 4.5.1.2. Dedicated URL for your online edition (i.e. www.coffeenewsonline.com/ME/Bangor). All online editions can be found via a dropdown menu from the main site.
- 4.5.1.3 Provides up to 40 single (400 x 300 pixel) ad spaces for sale from all industries including restaurants. Double ads (400 x 600 pixel) are also available to sell (and are counted as 2 ads). All ads rotate weekly.
- 4.5.1.4. Ads are mobile responsive and clickable, linking directly to the advertiser's web, email or phone contact information.
- 4.5.1.5. Provides 1 sponsorship ad for each week's online edition.
- 4.5.1.6. Coffee News® man is hidden in one of the ads each week and clickable to the contest entry form as part of the Coffee News® Contest.
- 4.5.2. Premium Service. The Premium Service is designed for publishers who do not already use an email marketing application such as MailChimp or Constant Contact. In addition to the Basic Service, Chil Consulting and/or Shadow Fox Consulting, the current third party contractors that provide Coffee News Online services, will provide email marketing services of your online edition and any other email marketing messages to your contacts for you each week. You would provide the email content to Chil Consulting and/or Shadow Fox Consulting.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 36–118)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Coffee News Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for uploading all advertisements and 'What's Happening' events content into the online feature system. While Coffee News Online services are provided by a third-party contractor hired by the franchisor, the franchisee plays a crucial role in populating the online platform with current and relevant content. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, enrollment in the Coffee News Online feature must be done through the franchisor.
Coffee News offers two options for online services: Basic and Premium. The Basic service includes the layout of current content, submitted ads, and 'What's Happening' events, all dated and posted for each Monday. It also provides a dedicated URL for the franchisee's online edition and up to 40 ad spaces for sale, along with a sponsorship ad. The Premium service, designed for those without an email marketing application, includes email marketing services for the online edition, with the franchisee providing the email content.
This division of responsibilities means that Coffee News franchisees need to be actively involved in gathering and managing local content to ensure their online edition is up-to-date and appealing to readers and advertisers. While the technical aspects of the online platform are handled by a third party, the franchisee's ability to source and upload compelling content directly impacts the success of their online Coffee News publication. Franchisees should consider the time and effort required to manage this content when evaluating the Coffee News Online feature.