Is the initial franchise fee for a Marble Slab Creamery restaurant refundable?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Initial Franchise Fees.
If we grant you a franchise for a Traditional Restaurant, then when you sign the Franchise Agreement, you must pay us an initial franchise fee ("Initial Fee") of $25,000. The Initial Fee for a Non-Traditional Restaurant is $25,000.
Adjustments. Under certain circumstances, we will agree to waive or reduce some or all of the Initial Fee and may accept payment in installments, interest free, over a period of from one to 18 months. Also, as described below, if you are signing the Franchise Agreement pursuant to a Multi-Unit Restaurant Agreement, you may be entitled to a credit against the Initial Fee. The Initial Fee is fully earned by us when paid and is not refundable under any circumstances.
Under a separate disclosure document, our affiliate, GAC, offers franchises for its "Great American Cookies" business, including a co-branded version that can be added to a "Marble Slab Creamery" restaurant with our consent. If we allow you to do so, you will sign a Franchise Agreement with GAC and a Co-brand Addendum with us (Exhibit B-1). We do not charge you any fee to add a co-branded "Great American Cookies"restaurant, but GAC charges, among other fees, an initial franchise fee of $25,000 for the right to do so, as disclosed in its separate disclosure document.
Under a separate disclosure document, our affiliate, RTP, offers franchises for its "Round Table Pizza" business, including a co-branded version that can be added to a "Marble Slab Creamery" restaurant with our consent. If we allow you to do so, you will sign a Franchise Agreement with RTP and a Co-brand Addendum with us (Exhibit B-1). We do not charge you any fee to add a co-branded "Round Table Pizza" restaurant, but RTP charges, among other fees, an initial franchise fee of $25,000 for the right to do so, as disclosed in its separate disclosure document.
We do not offer financing for the Franchise Fee.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 21–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Marble Slab Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document, the initial franchise fee is generally not refundable. For a traditional or non-traditional Marble Slab Creamery restaurant, the initial franchise fee is $25,000. This fee is considered fully earned by Marble Slab Creamery upon payment.
For franchisees entering into a Multi-Unit Restaurant Agreement with Marble Slab Creamery, a development fee is required, typically $25,000 multiplied by the number of restaurants to be opened. This development fee is also non-refundable once paid. However, the FDD states that a portion of the development fee may be credited against the initial franchise fee at a rate of $25,000 per franchise agreement until the entire development fee is credited.
While the initial franchise fee is typically non-refundable, Marble Slab Creamery may, under certain circumstances, waive or reduce the initial fee and may accept payment in installments. Also, Marble Slab Creamery may waive all or a portion of these fees for affiliates, existing franchisees purchasing new Restaurants, or other entities. It is important to note that Marble Slab Creamery may also negotiate the financial and other terms of Franchise Agreements and Multi-Unit Restaurant Agreements but generally only in connection with large transactions. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Franchise Agreement and discuss the specific terms and conditions with Marble Slab Creamery to fully understand the fee structure and any potential exceptions.