What is the definition of the 'Brand Development Fund' for Dryer Vent Squad?
Dryer_Vent_Squad Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
s as we may designate for the System. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.F.);
-
- Brand Development Fund We may control and administer a brand development fund (the "Brand Development Fund") (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.A.). As disclosed in Item 6 of this Disclosure Document, you must contribute a monthly sum not to exceed 2% of monthly Gross Sales to the Brand Development Fund. We may use the Brand Development Fund for market studies, research, service development, product development, testing, research studies, technology development, advertising and public relations studies or services, creative production and printing of advertising and marketing materials, advertising copy and commercials, tracking costs, agency fees, administrative costs, which may include reimbursement for direct administrative and personnel costs associated with advertising and public relations, and any other costs associated with the development, marketing and testing of advertising, marketing and public relations materials, and the purchase of media placement, advertising time and public relations materials in national, regional or other advertising and public relations media in a manner determined by us, in our discretion, to be in the best interest of the franchisees and the System. Our company and/or affiliate owned Dryer Vent Squad Businesses may but are not required to contribute to the Brand Development Fund. The Brand Development Fund will be required to maintain unaudited financial records detailing its expenditures and will make available to you (no more frequently than one time in any 12-month period) an unaudited accounting of how the monies contributed to the Brand Development Fund were spent each year. We are not required to segregate the Brand Development Fund from our general operating funds and we are not a fiduciary or trustee of the Brand Development Fund. The Brand Development Fund will not be used to directly promote your Dryer Vent Squad Business or the marketing area in which your Dryer Vent Squad Business will be located. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.A.). We may utilize the Brand Development Fund to develop and test various media and technologies for potential utilization and/or improvement of the operations of Dryer Vent Squad Businesses and the marketing of Dryer Vent Squad Businesses. These technology developments and/or improvements may relate, among other things, to our website and to the interaction and potential enhancement of web offerings that may or may not be implemented on behalf of Dryer Vent Squad Businesses. You may or may not benefit from these technology developments and improvements. (Franchise Agreement, Article 9.A.).
We may use the Brand Development Fund to compensate ourselves for administrative fees associated with managing the Brand Development Fund and for our internal employee salaries, expenses and overhead associated with or reasonably allocated to managing the activities of the Brand Development Fund and performing services on behalf of the Brand Development Fund including, but not limited to, directing, developing and managing media of the Brand Development Fund. We will not use the Brand Development Fund to directly market the sale of Dryer Vent Squad Business franchises; however, the advertising, marketing and brand development materials developed, including the System website, may contain information as to the availability of Dryer Vent Squad Business franchises for sale and contact information for franchise inquiries.
We have not established and do not currently require any contribution to a Brand Development Fund.
- Local and Regional Advertising Cooperative – We possess the exclusive right to authorize, establish, designate and de-authorize a local or regional advertising cooperative within those markets that we designate. We will
exclusively determine the geographic and other boundaries constituting each respective cooperative and factors that we will consider include media markets including print, television and digital.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 30–36)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Dryer Vent Squad's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Brand Development Fund is defined as a fund that Dryer Vent Squad may control and administer. Franchisees may be required to contribute a monthly sum not to exceed 2% of monthly Gross Sales to the Brand Development Fund. However, the document also states that as of the date of the FDD, Dryer Vent Squad does not currently require any contribution to a Brand Development Fund.
Dryer Vent Squad may use the Brand Development Fund for various purposes, including market studies, research, service and product development, testing, advertising and public relations. These activities encompass the creation, production, and distribution of advertising and marketing materials, as well as the purchase of media placements. The funds can also cover agency fees and administrative costs, including personnel costs associated with advertising and public relations. Dryer Vent Squad and its affiliates may contribute to the fund but are not required to do so.
The Brand Development Fund will maintain unaudited financial records detailing its expenditures and will make available to franchisees (no more frequently than one time in any 12-month period) an unaudited accounting of how the monies contributed to the Brand Development Fund were spent each year. Dryer Vent Squad is not required to segregate the Brand Development Fund from its general operating funds and is not a fiduciary or trustee of the Brand Development Fund. The Brand Development Fund will not be used to directly promote a franchisee's Dryer Vent Squad Business or the marketing area in which their Dryer Vent Squad Business will be located.
Dryer Vent Squad may use the Brand Development Fund to compensate themselves for administrative fees associated with managing the Brand Development Fund and for their internal employee salaries, expenses and overhead associated with or reasonably allocated to managing the activities of the Brand Development Fund and performing services on behalf of the Brand Development Fund including, but not limited to, directing, developing and managing media of the Brand Development Fund. Dryer Vent Squad will not use the Brand Development Fund to directly market the sale of Dryer Vent Squad Business franchises; however, the advertising, marketing and brand development materials developed, including the System website, may contain information as to the availability of Dryer Vent Squad Business franchises for sale and contact information for franchise inquiries. Dryer Vent Squad may utilize the Brand Development Fund to develop and test various media and technologies for potential utilization and/or improvement of the operations of Dryer Vent Squad Businesses and the marketing of Dryer Vent Squad Businesses.