Are the weekly copy fees for Coffee News included in the initial franchise acquisition fees?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ITEM 5**
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE
You must pay an initial franchise fee of $9,900.00 for the first franchise that is due upon signing the initial franchise agreement, $500.00 of which must be paid to us for document preparation including without limitation draft of the franchise agreement. The $500.00 shall be deducted from $9,900.00 upon signing the initial franchise agreement. For this, you will receive weekly copy within 14 days of signing the agreement with additional copy mailed in 8-week increments (no later than 5 business days prior to the end of the following 8-week period) which effectively represents reimbursement for weekly copy during the initial 3-month period of the agreement. Agreements may include up to the maximum 20 franchises permitted per publisher. A fee of $7,000.00 for each additional franchise is due at the time of signing the agreement for additional franchise(s). Upon our sole discretion, we may offer short term sales promotions to existing Publishers who wish to purchase additional franchise unit(s) from time to time. In the event that you notify us that you wish to revise the start date of business and postpone it by one month or more subsequent to your receipt of the initially executed franchise agreement, you need to pay for additional $1,000.00 to us to obtain such extension and hold your proposed licensed area for such one or more months before you pay the full amount due under the agreement. All fees are non-refundable.
In addition to the above initial fees applicable to the hard copy Periodical, if you choose to add the Coffee News Online feature, a one-time enrollment fee to participate in the amount of $100.00 shall be paid upon enrollment.
There are no other initial fees or payments required for services or goods before the date of the agreement. The date of the agreement is considered your date of opening your franchise business. Three months after your opening you will pay a required weekly fee for the continued receipt of copy or content for your periodical. The weekly fe
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 14–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Coffee News's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the weekly copy fees are not included in the initial franchise fee. The initial franchise fee is $9,900.00, a portion of which ($500.00) is allocated for document preparation. In return for the initial franchise fee, Coffee News provides weekly copy within 14 days of signing the agreement, with additional copy mailed in 8-week increments, effectively covering the weekly copy fees for the initial 3-month period of the agreement.
After this initial period, franchisees are required to pay a weekly fee for the continued receipt of copy or content. The weekly fee for the initial hardcopy franchise is $80, beginning on the first day of the third month following the month the franchise agreement was signed. For additional franchises, the weekly fee is $25 per franchise, starting on the first day of the tenth month after signing the initial franchise agreement. These fees are paid via credit/debit cards, check, or PayPal.
Therefore, while the initial franchise fee covers the cost of weekly copies for the first three months, franchisees should anticipate an ongoing weekly expense for the continued supply of content. This is a standard practice in franchising, where initial fees cover startup costs, and ongoing fees sustain the franchisor's support and supply of essential materials.