When is the photography expenses fee due for a Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchise?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- This fee is due when billed and is non-refundable.
You will be required to pay us $5,000 for photography expenses prior to the opening of your Hotel, which is charged by the third-party photographer. We will collect this fee from you and remit it to the photographer.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 23–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to pay a $5,000 fee for photography expenses. This fee covers the costs charged by a third-party photographer. Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential collects this fee from the franchisee and then remits it to the photographer.
The photography expenses fee is due when billed and is non-refundable. This means that franchisees should be prepared to pay this fee promptly upon receiving an invoice from Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential. The photography services are provided prior to the opening of the hotel, so the billing will likely occur sometime before the hotel's launch.
It is important for prospective Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees to factor this $5,000 photography expense into their initial investment costs. Understanding when this fee is due—when billed—allows for better financial planning and ensures that funds are available when the invoice arrives. This up-front cost is in addition to other initial fees such as the initial franchise fee, onboarding administration fee, and various IT-related fees.