How much was Cool Binz's advertising expense for the year ended December 31, 2024?
Cool_Binz Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
of your business.
You must also spend a minimum of 10% of Gross Sales annually on local advertising until your fleet of Portable Equipment containers is at least 80% rented and then, at that point, you are required to spend at least 5% of Gross Sales annual on local advertising. You must use our approved advertising and marketing materials, or receive our written approval of any and all other advertising and marketing materials before their first use. All advertising and marketing materials must meet our then-current standards and specifications. We may, in our sole discretion, offer and sell advertising, marketing, and promotional materials at any time. Certain items, such as your truck, must reference the COOL BINZ national toll free number. You may not alter or remove reference to the national toll free number. You have no obligation to purchase any of these materials or forms from us, but you may be required to purchase such materials from approved or designated suppliers, or participate in our local marketing programs, like our call center and/or direct mail solicitations at your expense. (Section 2.G of the Franchise Agreement).
We do not currently require you to participate in an advertising cooperative, however we reserve the right to implement cooperatives in the future, and require you to participate. The area
of the cooperative and membership will be determined on a regional basis depending on where our future franchisees operate. Since we do not currently have active cooperatives, we cannot state affirmatively how much franchisees will contribute, however, we, along with franchisees that are members of the cooperative will determine the amount contributed and each will contribute equally or on a pro-rata basis, as determined by the cooperative. Company Stores are not required to contribute, but may do so. We will administer the cooperatives and the cooperatives will operate from written governing documents that will be available for review to franchisees. If two or more COOL BINZ Businesses and/or Company Stores are serviced by the same telephone directory, we will require you to list all businesses under one COOL BINZ heading. Should this instance arise, you must pay your pro-rata share of the total expense of the joint listing. Any other forms of advertising that would also advertise to zip-codes both inside and outside of the Territory must be pre-approved by COOL BINZ in writing. We will notify you within ten days of our receipt of your written request. If we do not respond within ten days, the material is unapproved. Additionally, if we implement local marketing programs, like a call center and/or direct mail solicitations, you may be required to participate, at your expense.
Brand Marketing Fund
We have established and maintain a brand marketing fund (the "Brand Marketing Fund") for the common benefit of System franchisees. You must contribute two percent (2%) of your Gross Sales monthly to the Brand Marketing Fund (the "Brand Marketing Fee") in the manner we prescribe. You must pay the Brand Marketing Fee on a monthly basis. (Section 2.G of the Franchise Agreement).
We will use the Brand Marketing Fees, in our sole discretion, to develop, produce and distribute national, regional and/or local advertising and to create advertising materials and public relations programs which promote, in our sole judgment, the services offered by COOL BINZ franchisees. The advertising and marketing conducted through the Brand Marketing Fund is a combination of in-house marketing materials and through national agencies. We have the sole right to determine contributions and expenditures from the Brand Marketing Fund, or any other advertising program, and the sole authority to determine, without limitation, the selection of the advertising materials and programs; provided, however, that we will make a good faith effort to expend Brand Marketing Fees in the general best interests of the System on a national or regional basis. We may use the Brand Marketing Fund to satisfy any and all costs of maintaining, administering, directing, preparing, producing, and implementing advertising, including the cost of: (i) preparing, producing, and implementing television, radio, magazine and newspaper advertising campaigns, the cost of direct mail and outdoor billboard advertising; (ii) public relations activities and advertising agencies;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 63–238)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cool Binz franchisees are required to spend a percentage of their gross sales on local advertising. Specifically, a new Cool Binz franchisee must spend a minimum of 10% of Gross Sales annually on local advertising until their fleet of portable equipment containers are at least 80% rented. After the 80% rental threshold is reached, the required spending decreases to at least 5% of Gross Sales annually on local advertising.
Cool Binz requires franchisees to use their approved advertising and marketing materials, or receive written approval from them before using any other materials. Cool Binz also reserves the right to designate approved suppliers for all advertising and marketing materials. To obtain approval, franchisees must submit proposed advertising material for review at least ten business days before the intended first use. If Cool Binz takes no action within that period, the materials are deemed disapproved.
In addition to the local advertising requirements, Cool Binz franchisees must contribute two percent (2%) of their Gross Sales monthly to the Brand Marketing Fund. Cool Binz uses this fund to develop and distribute national, regional, and/or local advertising and create advertising materials and public relations programs. Cool Binz has sole discretion over the contributions to and expenditures from the Brand Marketing Fund.
The FDD does not state the total advertising expense incurred by Cool Binz itself for the year ended December 31, 2024. The FDD only details the advertising obligations of the franchisee and the Brand Marketing Fund that franchisees contribute to.