Does Epcon Communities charge a fee for administering the rebate program?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Note 5: Rebate Program Fee: We have the right to require you to participate in a rebate program that we have established with some of our approved and/or designated suppliers for the benefit of our franchisees. Under this program, you will receive a rebate from purchases that you make from these suppliers. The suppliers remit your rebate amount to us directly, and we in turn remit the rebate amount to you, less an administrative and accounting fee that we charge for our administration of the rebate program. Currently, you are not required to participate in the rebate program, but you may do so if you would like.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 16–22)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee chooses to participate in the rebate program, Epcon Communities will charge an administrative and accounting fee. This program involves franchisees receiving rebates from purchases made from approved suppliers. The suppliers remit the rebate amount directly to Epcon Communities, who then remits the amount to the franchisee, less the administrative fee.
Currently, participation in the rebate program is optional for franchisees. However, Epcon Communities retains the right to require participation in the future. This means that while franchisees can currently choose whether or not to engage in the program and incur the associated administrative fee, this could change, making the fee mandatory.
It is important for prospective franchisees to consider the potential impact of this administrative fee on their overall costs and profitability. While the rebate program is designed to offer savings on purchases from approved suppliers, the administrative fee charged by Epcon Communities will offset some of those savings. Franchisees should evaluate whether the net benefit of the rebate program, after deducting the administrative fee, is worthwhile for their business. Franchisees should inquire about the specific amount or percentage of the administrative fee to fully understand the costs associated with the rebate program.