For an Ella Cafe franchise, am I required to obtain a new telephone number?
Ella_Cafe Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
You must obtain and utilize a new telephone number for the Franchised Business through a vendor you select. If you are converting your existing coffee business to Ella Coffee House, you may continue to use all telephone numbers used in your prior business Services business ("Prior Business"), but we reserve the right during the term of the Franchise Agreement to require that you stop marketing all Prior Business telephone numbers and reroute such telephone numbers through the new telephone number for the Franchised Business. You must provide us with a list of all telephone numbers you use and market for the Franchised Business, from time to time upon our request during the term of the Franchise Agreement. We recommend that you retain and utilize a caller analytics and recording system for the Franchise Business. We reserve the right to require you to use our branded toll-free number.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–22)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Ella Cafe's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally required to obtain a new telephone number for their franchised business. This number must be acquired through a vendor of the franchisee's choosing.
However, there is an exception for franchisees who are converting an existing coffee business into an Ella Cafe. In this case, the franchisee may continue to use the telephone numbers from their prior business. Despite this allowance, Ella Cafe retains the right to require the franchisee to stop marketing the prior business's telephone numbers and reroute them through the new telephone number established for the Ella Cafe franchise.
Ella Cafe also requires franchisees to provide a list of all telephone numbers used and marketed for the franchised business upon request. The FDD recommends that franchisees retain and utilize a caller analytics and recording system for the franchise business. Furthermore, Ella Cafe reserves the right to require franchisees to use their branded toll-free number.