What costs and expenditures are *not* included in a Devon Creek franchisee's local advertising expenditures, unless approved in writing by the franchisor?

According to Devon Creek's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, there are specific costs that franchisees cannot include in their local advertising expenditures unless they receive prior written approval from Devon Creek. These disallowed costs include incentive programs for employees or agents, research expenditures, salaries, and expenses for any personnel attending advertising meetings, workshops, or other marketing activities, as well as charitable, political, or other contributions or donations.

This policy ensures that Devon Creek franchisees focus their advertising spending on activities that directly promote the brand and services in a manner consistent with the franchisor's standards. By requiring approval for these specific types of expenditures, Devon Creek maintains control over how advertising funds are used and prevents franchisees from using advertising budgets for unrelated or unapproved purposes.

For a prospective Devon Creek franchisee, this means carefully tracking local advertising expenditures and ensuring that any costs outside of standard advertising activities are pre-approved by the franchisor. Failure to obtain approval could result in those expenditures not counting towards the franchisee's required local advertising spend, potentially leading to non-compliance with the franchise agreement. Franchisees should maintain clear records of all advertising expenses and approvals to avoid any disputes with Devon Creek.