When is the Manual Fee due for a Gold Star franchise?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier Payment Assignment5 | 100% of product and/or advertising rebates or allowances from certain system- wide suppliers | Assigned when Franchise Agreement is signed | Payable to GSCAA Non-refundable |
| Inventory and Other Materials6 | See Item 8 of this disclosure document | On delivery or as established by designated supplier | Payable to designated supplier Non-refundable |
| Manual Fee | $100 for any additional copy | On delivery | Payable to Gold Star Non-refundable |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 12–18)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Manual Fee is due upon delivery of any additional copy of the manual. The fee is $100 for each additional copy requested. This fee is payable to Gold Star and is non-refundable.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that the initial franchise fee likely covers the first copy of the operations manual. However, if additional copies are needed for training purposes or for multiple managers, the franchisee will incur a $100 charge per copy. This is a relatively minor expense compared to other franchise fees, but it's important to factor it into the overall cost of setting up and running the Gold Star franchise.
It is common practice for franchisors to charge for additional copies of manuals, as these documents contain proprietary information and represent a tangible cost to reproduce. Franchisees should consider how many copies they might realistically need to avoid unexpected expenses. Franchisees should also confirm whether digital versions of the manual are available, which could reduce the need for physical copies.