What is the Coffee News franchisor's responsibility regarding the franchisee's online version?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e initial payment of the training fees referenced in Paragraph 10 hereof, Franchisee agrees that it shall use the printing services of Coffee News Printing, LLC during the term of the loan.
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:
4.5.1. 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.
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.
5. CONTENT OF PERIODICAL.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 36–118)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Coffee News's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Coffee News offers an online version of its publication, but the franchisee is primarily responsible for its content. Coffee News contracts with third-party providers to deliver the Coffee News Online services. However, the franchisee is responsible for uploading all advertisements and "What's Happening" events content into the online system. Unless Coffee News agrees otherwise in writing, all Coffee News Online enrollments must go through Coffee News.
Coffee News offers two service options for the online version: Basic and Premium. The Basic service provides the layout of current content, submitted ads, and dated "What's Happening" events for each Monday, allowing publishers to send them to their contacts weekly. It also includes a dedicated URL for the online edition and provides up to 40 single ad spaces (400 x 300 pixels) for sale, including restaurants, with double ads (400 x 600 pixels) also available. These ads are mobile-responsive, clickable, and link to the advertiser's contact information. The Basic service also provides one sponsorship ad per week and includes the Coffee News® man hidden in one of the ads, linking to the contest entry form.
The Premium Service is designed for publishers who do not use an email marketing application. In addition to the Basic Service, third-party contractors will provide email marketing services of the online edition and other email marketing messages to the franchisee's contacts each week. The franchisee would provide the email content to these contractors.
While Coffee News provides the platform and some support, the franchisee is responsible for managing the content and ensuring its accuracy. This includes uploading advertisements and event information, as well as potentially providing content for email marketing if they choose the Premium Service. Prospective franchisees should clarify with Coffee News what level of support and training is provided for the online platform and how they can ensure they are effectively utilizing it to generate revenue.