Does Mr. Sandless require pre-approval for all local advertising?
Mr_Sandless Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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ITEM 6 OTHER FEES
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee – Mr. Sandless Business | 6% of Gross Sales or $600, whichever is greater | No Royalty Fee for the first 3 months after opening, transfers not included. Then monthly, not later than the 15th day of each month | Royalties are payable on your Gross Sales for the previous calendar month. If the 15th day of any month is not a business day, then payment is due on the next business day. See Note 1. |
| Advertising Fund | 1% of Gross Sales | Payable at the same time and in the same manner as the Royalty Fee | You must contribute to our Advertising Fund (described in Item 11) |
| Required Minimum Expenditure for Local Marketing and Advertising | Minimum $1,500 per month. | As incurred. | Payable to third parties. All advertising must be pre-approved by us. See footnote 2. |
| Additional Territory Fee | $5,000 per 100,000 population | As incurred upon signing an Amendment to add Territory | If you meet our qualifications, you have the option to purchase additional territory to a maximum of 4 territories under your Franchise Agreement. |
| Surveys | $140 | On demand | If we conduct a customer satisfaction survey for your Business and the results of the survey are below our minimum standards, we have the right to bill you for the cost of the survey. Any survey costs paid by you are contributed to the Advertising Fund |
| Transfer Fee | $5,000 per Owner | Upon transfer | The transfer fee includes all franchise units you own. |
| Successor Agreement Fee | $1,000 per Business | Upon signing the Successor Franchise Agreement | The Successor Agreement Fee is per franchise unit you hold. |
| Interest on Overdue Amounts | 18% per annum or the highest lawful interest rate for commercial transactions, whichever is less | As incurred | See Note 3. |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 10–13)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Mr. Sandless's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to obtain pre-approval for all local advertising. Specifically, the FDD states that all advertising must be pre-approved by Mr. Sandless. Additionally, franchisees must spend a minimum of $1,500 per month on local marketing and advertising, payable to third parties.
Mr. Sandless also requires written approval before a franchisee can use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, or other networking and sharing websites. This approval ensures that the franchisee's use of social media aligns with Mr. Sandless's brand standards and requirements.
Furthermore, Mr. Sandless charges a fee of $500 if a franchisee is found to have used any marketing piece without prior approval. This underscores the importance of adhering to the pre-approval requirement for all marketing materials to avoid incurring additional costs. This pre-approval process is fairly common in franchising, as it allows the franchisor to maintain brand consistency and quality control across all franchise locations.