What is the maximum franchise meeting fee that Cream can charge per person?
Cream Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
M 6 OTHER FEES**
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks 1, 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest on Late Payment | Lesser of 1.5% per month or the highest commercial contract rate allowed by law | As incurred | All amounts which you owe us for any reason will bear interest accruing as of their due dates until payment is received in full. |
| Insufficient Funds Fee | Lesser of $100 or the highest amount permitted by applicable law, per occurrence | As incurred | We will charge you the lesser of our then-current fee, or the highest amount permitted by applicable law, per occurrence, for checks returned to us due to insufficient funds or in the event there are insufficient funds in the business account you designate to cover our withdrawals. |
| Transfer Fee | $25,000 | As incurred, prior to approval of transfer | You must pay this fee as one of the conditions of transferring your Shop and/or your Franchise Agreement and/or Area Development Agreement to another person we approve (other than to a wholly- owned and controlled entity, or if the transfer is from a deceased owner to a surviving spouse, though in such cases you must still reimburse us our processing costs, including legal fees). |
| Relocation Fee | $7,500, plus reimbursement of our costs and fees | As incurred | If you request to relocate your Shop and we approve your request, you must pay a relocation fee. |
| Renewal Fee | $20,000 | As incurred, prior to renewal | You must pay this fee as one of the conditions of obtaining a successor franchise upon the expiration of the Franchise Agreement. |
| Non-Approved | Reimbursement of | As incurred | You must reimburse our costs and expenses if you |
| Product or | our costs and | ask us to evaluate any vendors or products that we | |
| Vendor Testing | expenses | have not approved and we agree to do so. | |
| Insurance | 120% of the premiums paid | As incurred | If you fail or refuse to obtain and maintain the insurance we specify, we may obtain such insurance for you and your Shop on your behalf. |
| Franchise Meeting Fee | To be determined (subject to change) | As incurred | We may designate that attendance at a franchise meeting is mandatory for you and/or your Shopkeeper. We will charge this fee even if you or your Shopkeeper do not attend. This fee will not exceed $1,500 per person. |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 13–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cream's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cream may require franchisees and/or their Shopkeepers to attend franchise meetings. While the exact fee is to be determined and subject to change, the FDD specifies that this fee will not exceed $1,500 per person. This fee is charged whether or not the franchisee or their Shopkeeper attends the meeting.
This means that as a prospective Cream franchisee, you should be prepared to potentially pay up to $1,500 per person for mandatory franchise meetings. This cost should be factored into your operating budget. It is important to note that the fee is subject to change, so it is crucial to confirm the current fee amount with Cream before signing the Franchise Agreement.
Franchise meeting fees are relatively common in the franchise industry, as they allow franchisors to provide training, updates, and networking opportunities to their franchisees. However, the specific amount and the mandatory nature of attendance can vary significantly between franchise systems. Therefore, it is essential to understand Cream's policy on franchise meetings and associated fees to make an informed investment decision.