When are the mystery shopper costs due to Cream?
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. These costs are due 'as incurred.' This means that Cream franchisees are responsible for paying these fees when they receive the bill or invoice from Cream.
Cream may engage an independent shopping service to evaluate a franchise location. Cream determines the frequency, nature, and extent of these evaluation services. The mystery shopper program is a way for Cream to evaluate the customer service, product quality, and overall operations of its franchise locations. This helps Cream ensure that its franchisees are meeting the brand's standards and providing a consistent customer experience.
It is important for prospective Cream franchisees to understand that these mystery shopper fees are in addition to other fees outlined in the Franchise Disclosure Document. Franchisees should budget for these expenses and factor them into their overall financial projections. Because Cream determines the frequency and extent of these evaluations, the costs may vary. Franchisees should inquire with Cream about the typical frequency and cost of mystery shopper visits to better estimate these expenses.