What costs must a Cream franchisee reimburse for mystery shopper services?
Cream Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks 1, 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mystery Shoppers | Reimbursement of our costs and expenses | As incurred | We may engage an independent shopping service to evaluate your Shop. We will determine the frequency, nature, and extent of the evaluation services. You must reimburse all fees and costs charged by the independent shopping service. |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 13–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cream's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must reimburse Cream for the costs and expenses associated with mystery shopper services. Cream may use an independent shopping service to evaluate a franchise location, determining the frequency, nature, and extent of these evaluations. The franchisee is then responsible for reimbursing all fees and costs charged by this independent shopping service.
This means that as a Cream franchisee, you should anticipate and budget for these potential mystery shopper expenses. The frequency and cost of these evaluations are determined by Cream, so it's important to factor in that these costs can vary.
While the FDD specifies that franchisees must cover the costs, it does not provide an estimate of how much these services might cost. It would be prudent for a prospective franchisee to discuss with Cream the typical frequency and expense of these mystery shopper evaluations to better understand the potential financial impact on their business.