What is the Punch King Fitness franchisee's obligation regarding advertising within the Territory?
Punch_King_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
asonably necessary by Franchisor to give effect to this provision. Any advertising, marketing, promotional, public relations, or sales concepts, plans, programs, activities, or materials proposed or developed by Franchisee for the Franchised Business or the System and approved by Franchisor may be used by Franchisor and other franchisees of Franchisor without any compensation to Franchisee.
I. Local Advertising
Franchisee shall conduct advertising, promotion, and public relations within the local area to be serviced by the Franchised Business (Local Advertising). It is suggested that Franchisee spends at least $100 per month every month for Local Advertising to generate public interest and awareness of the Franchised Business and to adequately penetrate the market for Franchisee's products and services within Franchisee's trading area. Franchisee shall submit proof of local advertising spending to franchisor by the 10th day following the end of each fiscal quarter.
J. Regional Advertising Cooperatives
Franchisor may, at its discretion, designate any geographical area in which at least two Punch King Fitness Franchised Businesses are located for the purpose of establishing a local or regional marketing and advertising cooperative (Cooperative). Franchisee shall take appropriate steps to establish and participate in a Cooperative if required to do so by Franchisor. If a Cooperative for the geographical area in which the Franchised Business is located has already been established when Franchisee opens the Franchised Business, then Franchisee shall immediately become a member of the Cooperative under the terms of its governing documents. If a Cooperative for the geographical area in which the Franchised Business is located is established during the term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall immediately become a member of the Cooperative and take all steps necessary to become a member. In no event shall Franchisee be required to be a member of more than one Cooperative for the Franchised Business established under this Agreement. The following provisions apply to each Cooperative:
1. Each Cooperative will be organized and governed in a form and manner prescribed or approved by Franchisor in writing and will commence operations on a date specified by Franchisor. Any disputes arising between Franchisee on one side and other franchisees in the Cooperative or the Cooperative on the other side, will be resolved in accordance with the rules and procedures in the Cooperative's governing documents. Each member of a Cooperative, whether a Franchisor, an affiliate of Franchisor, or a
franchisee of Franchisor, will be entitled to one vote for each Franchised Business operated by the member in the geographical area for which the Cooperative is established.
- 2. Franchisor, in its sole discretion, shall establish the geographical area covered by each Cooperative by determining the common coverage areas of advertising media relevant to the particular geographic market, the Metropolitan or Metropolitan Statistical Area, industry practices, or Franchisor's advertising policies.
- 3. Each Cooperative will be organized for the exclusive purpose of administering local or regional advertising programs and developing, subject to Franchisor's approval, standardized promotional materials for use by the members in local or regional advertising and promotion.
- 4. No advertising or promotional plans or materials may be used by a Cooperative or furnished to its members without the prior approval of Franchisor pursuant to the procedures in this Section of this Agreement.
- 5. Each month that a Cooperative is in existence for Franchisee's geographical area, Franchisee shall contribute to the Cooperative an amount specified by Franchisor or Cooperative (the Cooperative Contribution). Franchisee's Cooperative Contribution will not be credited toward the National Advertising Contribution required by this Section.
- 6. The members of the Cooperative will determine the amount of the Cooperative Contribution in accordance with its governing documents, but the Cooperative Contribution may not exceed the monthly Suggested Local Advertising Expenditure provided here above. Franchisee shall pay its Cooperative Contribution, together with any statements or reports that Franchisor or the Cooperative (with Franchisor's prior written approval) may require, on a date each month determined by the Cooperative, but no later than the tenth day of each month.
- 7. Within thirty days after the end of each calendar month, each Cooperative will prepare and submit to Franchisor financial statements presenting the financial position and results of operations of the Cooperative for the preceding month. Each member of the Cooperative will be entitled to receive a copy of the Cooperative's financial statements upon request.
- 8. For each Punch King Fitness Franchised Business operated by Franchisor or an affiliate of Franchisor in a geographical area for which a Cooperative has been established, Franchisor shall make a Cooperative Contribution on the same basis as assessments required of comparable franchises that are members of the same Cooperative.
- 9. Cooperatives established by Franchisor are intended to be of perpetual duration. However, Franchisor maintains the right to modify, merge, or dissolve any Cooperative. Franchisor shall use any unexpended monies from the dissolved Cooperative only for advertising or promotional purposes for the System.
- 10. Franchisee acknowledges that Punch King Fitness Franchised Business operated by other franchisees of Franchisor, even though located in the same geographical area in which the Franchised
Business is located, may be operating under franchise agreements containing terms that vary substantially from the terms of this Agreement, and consequently, may not be required to participate in Cooperatives.
K.Grand Opening
It is recommended, and Franchisee so covenants and agrees to spend at least $2,500 to $3,500 on grand opening advertising before opening the Franchised Business and/or during the first 3 months of operation. You may choose to spend more. Factors that may affect your decision on the actual amount to spend include local media costs, the location of the Franchised Business, and customer demographics in the surrounding area.
TRANSFERABILITY OF INTEREST
A.Transfer by Franchisor
Franchisor shall have the right to transfer or assign all or any part of its rights and/or obligations herein to any person or legal entity, including a subfranchisor specifically responsible for assisting Franchisee.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 56–215)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Punch King Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to conduct local advertising, promotion, and public relations within their service area. Punch King Fitness suggests a minimum spend of $100 per month for local advertising to build public interest and market penetration. Franchisees must submit proof of this local advertising spending to Punch King Fitness by the 10th day following the end of each fiscal quarter.
Additionally, Punch King Fitness may establish regional advertising cooperatives in areas with at least two Punch King Fitness locations. If required by Punch King Fitness, franchisees must participate in these cooperatives. If a cooperative already exists in the franchisee's area when they open their business, they must immediately become a member. Similarly, if a cooperative is established during the term of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must join immediately. Franchisees will not be required to be a member of more than one cooperative.
The FDD also states that any website is considered advertising and is subject to Punch King Fitness's approval. Punch King Fitness retains the right to establish and control a website to promote the brand, its services, and franchising opportunities. Franchisees must comply with Punch King Fitness's policies regarding any web pages describing their franchise, and Punch King Fitness can limit or discontinue the content and operation of such web pages.
Franchisees are also required to contribute to the National Advertising Fund, with payments made to the Punch King Fitness National Advertising Fund. These funds are used for advertising and promotional purposes, as well as for reasonable salaries, overhead, administrative, accounting, and legal costs related to the administration of the fund and advertising programs. While it is anticipated that all contributions will be expended within the taxable year, any excess amounts will be used in subsequent years, first from accumulated earnings, then current earnings, and finally from contributions. Punch King Fitness maintains the right of final approval of all advertising programs.