What do the weekly fees paid by Coffee News franchisees cover?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must purchase weekly copy, also known as content, from us as the U.S. Franchisor. The weekly copy shall be used for the Periodical, hardcopy and/or online version, which contains the format and information to be included in all sections except the "What's Happening" section, which you shall provide. Weekly fees are not a part of the initial acquisition of your franchises as explained in Item 7. Weekly fees paid by you cover the cost of the copy or content we supply to you on an ongoing basis. Please see Item 6 for the amount of weekly fees paid by you.
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 fees paid by franchisees cover the cost of the weekly copy, or content, that the franchisor supplies on an ongoing basis. This copy contains the format and information to be included in all sections of the Coffee News publication, except for the "What's Happening" section, which the franchisee is responsible for providing.
For the initial franchise, the weekly fee for the hardcopy periodical is $80 per week, beginning after the initial period. For additional franchises, the weekly fee is $25 per week for each additional franchise purchased, starting after the first nine months of operation. Additionally, Coffee News offers online services with weekly fees of $25.00 for the Basic Service and $50.00 for the Premium Service.
It is important to note that these weekly fees are separate from the initial franchise fees. Franchisees are also required to purchase printing services from Coffee News Printing, LLC in Bangor, Maine, for a minimum of one year, although this is a separate cost from the weekly fees for content. The franchisor's revenue from required purchases, including the weekly royalty fees for copy, represents a significant portion of their total revenue.