Can the Craters & Freighters Marketing Fund be used for franchisee geosites?
Craters_Freighters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Marketing Fund will be used exclusively for the purpose of promoting the System. We may expend Marketing Fund monies towards the creation, production, and/or placement of advertising in local, regional, or national media including, but not limited to, broadcast, print, electronic, direct mail, radio, television, or other media), developing promotional materials, and undertaking public relations activities on behalf of the entire System or on behalf of a particular portion of the System. The Marketing Fund may also be used to meet any and all costs of maintaining, administering, directing, and preparing marketing, advertising, and promotional efforts and programs including, but not limited to: direct mail advertising; local, regional, and national promotions; call centers; market research; public relations activities; developing and maintaining Franchisor's Website and franchisee geosites (including your Geosite); employing marketing, advertising, and public relations agencies (including the payment of commissions); purchasing promotional items; attending trade shows; providing other marketing materials and services to franchised businesses operating under the System; and other marketing, advertising, and promotional activities.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 22–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Craters & Freighters Franchise Disclosure Document, the Marketing Fund can be used for developing and maintaining the Franchisor's Website and franchisee geosites, including your individual geosite. This means that a portion of the funds you contribute to the Marketing Fund could be used to support your online presence.
Craters & Freighters has the sole right to market on the Internet and use their trademarks on the Internet, including all use of websites, domain names, URLs, directory addresses, email addresses, metatags, linking, advertising, cobranding and other arrangements, and in all other forms of electronic media. As a franchisee, you cannot register any domain name or any portion of a domain name containing Craters & Freighters' trademarks or participate or market on any website or other form of electronic media using their trademarks without written approval from Craters & Freighters.
The FDD specifies that the Marketing Fund is intended to maximize general brand recognition, and Craters & Freighters is not obligated to spend money in a way that directly benefits each franchisee proportionally to their contribution. While the Marketing Fund can be used for franchisee geosites, there is no guarantee that your specific geosite will receive direct support or benefit from these funds. Craters & Freighters will provide an annual accounting of the Marketing Fund upon request, showing how the funds were spent in the previous year.