Are the fees paid to Deka Lash in Table 1 refundable?

According to Deka Lash's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the fees paid directly to Deka Lash as listed in Table 1 of Item 7 are not refundable. This includes the initial franchise fee, operations onboarding and first studio opening support fee, and initial staff training and certification fee. However, the refundability of fees paid to third-party vendors depends on the specific policies of those vendors.

This means that a prospective Deka Lash franchisee should be prepared to lose the initial fees paid to the company if they decide not to proceed with the franchise after signing the agreement. It is crucial to carefully consider the investment and conduct thorough due diligence before entering into the franchise agreement. Franchisees should inquire about the refund policies of third-party vendors before making any payments to them.

For example, the initial franchise fee is $59,900, the operations onboarding and first studio opening support fee is $5,450, and the initial staff training and certification fee is $3,750. These amounts are paid directly to Deka Lash and are non-refundable. Other fees, such as those for new franchisee training travel, meals & lodging, design/architectural plans, leasehold improvements, rent, signage, furniture, flooring, computers, start-up supplies, grand opening marketing, insurance, professional fees, utilities, payroll and additional funds are paid to third-party vendors and their refundability depends on the vendor's policies.

Understanding the refund policies is an important aspect of assessing the financial risk associated with investing in a Deka Lash franchise. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the terms and conditions of all agreements and invoices to determine whether any fees are refundable and under what circumstances.