To whom is the franchise fee paid when opening a Marble Slab Creamery franchise?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ESTMENT
Traditional Restaurant
| Type of Expenditure | Amo | ount | Method of | When Due | To Whom Payment Is to Be |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 1 | Low | High | Payment | Made | |
| Franchise Fee 1 | $25,000 | $25,000 | Lump sum | At signing of Franchise Agreement | Us |
| Grand Opening | $3,000 | $5,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Third party |
| Marketing 2 | suppliers or us | ||||
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training 3 | $1,000 | $5,000 | As incurred | As incurred | Airlines, hotels, and restaurants |
| Other Opening Inventory 4 | $5,700 | $15,150 | Lump Sum | Be |
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 32–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Marble Slab Creamery FDD, the franchise fee is paid to the franchisor, referred to as "Us" in the document. For a Traditional Restaurant, Non-Traditional Restaurant, or Standard Co-Brand Restaurant, the franchise fee is $25,000. If a franchisee is permitted to operate a Satellite location, a satellite fee of $15,000 is paid to Marble Slab Creamery. These fees are due when signing the Franchise Agreement or Satellite Addendum and are considered fully earned by Marble Slab Creamery upon payment, being non-refundable.
For franchisees entering into a Multi-Unit Restaurant Agreement with Marble Slab Creamery, a development fee is also paid to "Us". This fee is currently equal to $25,000 multiplied by the number of Marble Slab Creamery Restaurants the franchisee agrees to open. However, the FDD notes that certain parties to Multi-Unit Restaurant Agreements may not be required to pay this development fee.
Prospective franchisees should note that these fees are in addition to other initial investment costs, such as grand opening marketing expenses, travel and living expenses while training, and other opening inventory. It is important to carefully review all the expenditures and to whom payments are to be made, as these vary depending on the type of expenditure, with payments going to third-party suppliers, architects, landlords, and others in addition to Marble Slab Creamery itself.