Is Coffee News obligated to provide training classes before or after I begin publishing?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ee News Resource Center (Franchise Agreement Section 4.2).
TRAINING PROGRAM
We have no obligations to provide any training classes before or after you begin publishing or to set up an advertising program or fund. You are not required to participate in any other advertising fund.
Our training program is available in person. All signatories, usually the business owners and/or the principal officers of the entity, to the agreement are required to complete the training program to our satisfactory. All costs including without limitation mentoring and startup services are covered by the one – time training fee of $2,900.00, which is included in and will be deducted from the $9,900.00 initial franchise fees. Said onetime fee only applies to new publishers coming into our system. We provide all new publishers with access to all necessary pre-opening training materials and our mentor training program upon signing the franchise agreement.
We also offer a two to three-day Coffee News College every 8-13 weeks for all North American publishers/franchisees. The business owners and their principal officers of the entity are
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 17–21)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Coffee News Franchise Disclosure Document, Coffee News has no obligation to provide training classes either before or after a franchisee begins publishing. However, Coffee News does provide a training program that all signatories to the agreement, typically business owners or principal officers, are required to complete to Coffee News' satisfaction. This training program is available in person. The one-time training fee of $2,900.00 covers all costs, including mentoring and startup services. This fee is included in the initial franchise fee of $9,900.00 and will be deducted from it.
The FDD also states that Coffee News offers a two to three-day Coffee News College every 8-13 weeks for all North American publishers/franchisees. The business owners and their principal officers of the entity are required to attend the initial training program. Travel expenses are not included.
The training program includes 16 hours of classroom training, along with an 8-week mentor program. The training covers topics such as profitability, startup procedures, sales techniques, distribution methods and systems, ad design, artwork creation, printing processes, branding strategies, networking skills, billing and collections, referral and power sales techniques, motivational videos, support services, online and social media strategies, business plan development, and Capulus (likely referring to software or a specific system used by Coffee News). The training takes place in Bangor, ME, and is conducted by various instructors, including Mr. Garrett Guernsey, Mr. John Buckley, Mr. Ben Sprague, and Ms. Melissa Coombs.
While attendance to the initial training program is mandatory, existing publishers may attend future initial training programs voluntarily at their own expense. This suggests that ongoing training and support are available, but not required, allowing franchisees to continuously improve their skills and knowledge as their business evolves.