What is the Initial Special Marketing Program (ISMP) for Expense Reduction Analysts?
Expense_Reduction_Analysts Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
or marketing material at your sole cost and expense.
Initial Special Marketing Program
You may elect to participate in our Initial Special Marketing Program ("ISMP") during the first eighteen (18) months after commencement date. If you participate in the ISMP, you will invest in an individual marketing program for your Consulting Business, with our prior written approval. (Section 5.2(4) of the Franchise Agreement).
If you elect to participate in the ISMP, you must: (1) complete an ISMP marketing and activity plan that is reviewed and approved by us; (2) actively participate in a formal monthly review of the approved ISMP marketing and activity plan; and (3) on a monthly basis, achieve the activities required in your ISMP marketing and activity plan.
If you participate in the ISMP and comply with its terms, we will deduct the amount of ISMP funds spent by you each month during the ISMP from your obligations to pay Minimum Royalty Fees for the current month. The maximum credit applied shall not be more than a
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–36)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Expense Reduction Analysts' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Initial Special Marketing Program (ISMP) is an optional program available to franchisees during the first 18 months after their franchise commencement date. If a franchisee chooses to participate in the ISMP, they must invest in a marketing program for their Consulting Business, which requires Expense Reduction Analysts' prior written approval.
To participate in the ISMP, franchisees must complete an ISMP marketing and activity plan that is reviewed and approved by Expense Reduction Analysts. They also need to actively participate in a formal monthly review of the approved plan and consistently achieve the activities outlined in their ISMP marketing and activity plan on a monthly basis.
If the Expense Reduction Analysts franchisee participates in the ISMP and complies with its terms, Expense Reduction Analysts will deduct the amount of ISMP funds spent each month from the franchisee's obligation to pay Minimum Royalty Fees for that month. However, the maximum credit applied cannot exceed $500 per month, which is deducted from the monthly Minimum Royalty Fee.