Can the Craters & Freighters Marketing Fund be used for regional advertising?

According to the 2025 Craters & Freighters Franchise Disclosure Document, the Marketing Fund can be used for regional advertising. Craters & Freighters has established a Marketing Fund to promote the Craters & Freighters system. The funds can be used for advertising in local, regional, or national media, including broadcast, print, electronic, direct mail, radio, television, or other media. It can also be used for developing promotional materials and public relations activities.

The Marketing Fund is intended to maximize brand recognition, but Craters & Freighters is not obligated to spend the money in proportion to a franchisee's contributions or guarantee any direct benefit to individual franchisees. Craters & Freighters does not have any local or regional advertising cooperatives unless they designate a geographic area where two or more Craters & Freighters outlets are located as a region for establishing a Cooperative. If a Cooperative has been established for a geographic area where your Craters & Freighters Franchised Business is located when the Franchise Agreement is signed, or if any Cooperative is established during the term of the Franchise Agreement, you must become a member of the Cooperative and abide by the rules of the Cooperative.

Franchisees are also required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising. Each year, a franchisee must spend the greater of $6,000, or one percent (1%) of their Adjusted Gross Sales for the prior calendar year, on advertising and promotion in their territory. This amount will not exceed $18,000. This expense is separate from the Marketing Fund contribution. Franchisees must submit annual reports to Craters & Freighters reflecting their advertising expenditures. Franchisees may not advertise outside their Territory without Craters & Freighters' approval.