Who has the discretion over how advertising funds are spent for Fitstop?
Fitstop Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
required to pay Fund fees.
We have full discretion to settle or forgive any accrued and unpaid Fund contributions owed by a franchisee. With any advertising funds paid, we have sole discretion as to how and where the money is spent to promote, enhance, or further the growth of the system, including, without limitation, promotional marketing, public relationships, and advertising expenses, hiring marketing, public relations and advertising agencies and internal personnel to assist in developing the brand name and average unit volumes, expenses associated with listings in telephone books, subsidies of premiere/marquis locations designed to garner media attention and promote the brand name, travel expenses in connection with promotions and marketing meetings, training, development of Proprietary Marks and trademarked materials, production of circulars, media, advertisements, coupons, and promotional materials (including point of purchase materials), market research, developing training tools designed to assist System franchisees, the cost of developing and maintaining an Internet website and other digital marketing tools, developing and deploying mystery shopper programs and for any other use we determine. Additionally, we can use the Fund to pay for expenses incurred in developing and maintaining non-franchise sales portion of our primary brand website. We are not required to spend any advertising funds in your specific area or territory. Materials provided by the Fund to all Franchisees may include video and audio tapes, mats, posters, banners, and miscellaneous point-of-sale items. You will receive one sample of each at no charge.
We may occasionally provide for placement of advertising on behalf of the entire franchise system, including Franchisees. However, most placement is on a local basis, typically by local advertising agencies hired by individual Franchisees or advertising cooperatives. While we have not yet done so, we have the right in the future to use advertising fees paid by our Franchisees to place advertising in national media (including broadcast, print or other media). Advertising funds are used to promote the products sold by Franchisees. A brief statement regarding the availability of information regarding the purchase of a franchise may be included in the advertising and other items produced using the Fund, with the understanding that will not use Fund amounts in connection with marketing that is designed to principally to sell franchises.
Currently, any Fund Contributions are payable to us. We have the right to establish in the future a non-profit corporation or other business entity to collect Fund advertising contributions from our Franchisees. The Fund is administered by our accounting and marketing personnel under our direction. We may have the Fund borrow from us or other lenders to cover any Fund deficits. We may have the fund invest any surplus for the Fund's future use. You will be able to obtain an accounting annually upon written request to our President at our principal place of business 120 days after our latest fiscal year end. We claim no power to require that advertising cooperatives be formed, changed, dissolved or merged.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 24–35)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fitstop's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Fitstop has sole discretion over how advertising funds are spent. This includes deciding how and where the money is used to promote and grow the Fitstop system. These funds can be used for various purposes, including promotional marketing, public relations, advertising expenses, hiring marketing and advertising agencies, and developing the brand name.
Fitstop can also use these funds for expenses related to listings in telephone books, subsidies for premiere locations, travel expenses for promotions and marketing meetings, training, developing trademarks, and producing promotional materials. This also extends to market research, developing training tools for franchisees, maintaining the Fitstop website, and implementing mystery shopper programs. Fitstop is not obligated to spend any advertising funds in a franchisee's specific area or territory.
While Fitstop may occasionally place advertising on behalf of the entire franchise system, most advertising placement is done locally by agencies hired by individual franchisees or advertising cooperatives. Fitstop retains the right to use advertising fees for national media advertising in the future. The advertising funds are used to promote the products sold by Fitstop franchisees, and advertisements may include information about franchise availability, provided the funds are not primarily used to sell franchises.
Currently, any Fund Contributions are payable to Fitstop. Fitstop has the right to establish in the future a non-profit corporation or other business entity to collect Fund advertising contributions from franchisees. The Fund is administered by Fitstop's accounting and marketing personnel under their direction. Fitstop may have the Fund borrow or invest to cover any Fund deficits or for the Fund's future use. Franchisees can obtain an accounting annually upon written request to Fitstop's President 120 days after their latest fiscal year end.