What funds will Engineering For Kids administer during the operation of the Franchised Business?
Engineering_For_Kids Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
During the operation of your Franchised Business.
-
- We will administer the Brand Fund and Regional Fund (if we establish a Regional Fund), as described below in this Item. (Franchise Agreement, Sections 9.1 - 9.4)
(e) Unless we designate otherwise in writing when we establish a Regional Fund, we will administer the Regional Fund in the same manner as described above regarding the System Fund.
During any periods that the Brand Fund is in effect, you must contribute the amounts that we specify to the Brand Fund as described in the first paragraph above under "Ongoing Advertising". We may use your contributions and any earnings on the Brand Fund for any costs associated with local, regional, and/or national advertising, marketing, public relations, and/or promotional programs and materials, and any other activities we believe would benefit Franchised Businesses and "Engineering For Kids" brand and the System generally, including advertising campaigns in various media; creation and maintenance of online marketing (including one or more websites or other Online Sites (as defined below), social media/networking and other digital media); direct mail advertising; market research and testing, including secret customers and customer satisfaction surveys; employing advertising and/or public relations agencies; purchasing promotional items; conducting and administering promotions, contests, giveaways, public relations events, community involvement activities, etc.; providing promotional and other marketing materials and services to our franchisees; and development of, or producing for franchisees, materials and items used in the Businesses for customer viewing and use; and on materials and/or services designed to promote the brand and employment opportunities in order to facilitate selection and hiring of qualified staff. We have the right to deduct from the Brand Fund 15% of the monies in the Brand Fund on contributions for administration and management of the Brand Fund. We have the right to direct all marketing programs, with the final decision over creative concepts, materials and media used in the programs and their placement. The Brand Fund contributions may be used for national, regional and/or local advertising activities and may take place in a variety of media (including television, radio, and print).
We will deposit all contributions to the Brand Fund in an account separate from our other funds and will not use them to defray any of our general operating expenses, except for reasonable administrative costs and overhead we incur in activities reasonably related to the administration of the Brand Fund or the management of Brand Fund-supported programs (including full or partial salaries of our personnel who devote full- or part-time to Brand Fund activities). Additionally, we may charge the Brand Fund fees at reasonable market rates for advertising, marketing, and promotional services that we ourselves actually provide in lieu of engaging third-party agencies to provide such services.
At any time, we may stop collecting and disbursing advertising contributions and terminate the Brand Fund. It will not be terminated, however, until all monies in the fund have been expended for marketing purposes.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 25–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engineering For Kids' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Engineering For Kids will administer the Brand Fund and any Regional Funds that may be established. The Brand Fund is used for advertising, marketing, public relations, and promotional programs to benefit Engineering For Kids franchisees.
The Brand Fund uses contributions for local, regional, and national advertising campaigns across various media, online marketing, direct mail, market research, and other promotional activities. Engineering For Kids can deduct 15% of the Brand Fund contributions for administrative and management costs. All contributions are deposited in a separate account and will not be used for general operating expenses, except for reasonable administrative costs. Franchisees may request an unaudited statement of contributions and expenditures for the Brand Fund within 90 days after the close of the fiscal year.
Regional Funds, if established, are used for regional marketing campaigns. Franchisees must join a Regional Fund if one exists in their area. Engineering For Kids will administer the Regional Fund in the same manner as the Brand Fund, unless otherwise specified in writing. Franchisees must submit their Regional Contribution on the same schedule as their Royalty Fees and provide required reports.
Engineering For Kids has the right to stop collecting and disbursing advertising contributions and terminate the Brand Fund, but only after all monies have been expended for marketing purposes. Engineering For Kids also controls the concepts and materials related to advertising and promotional campaigns, and promotional materials produced with Brand Fund monies will be made available to franchisees at a reasonable cost.