Considering a Fresh Coat Franchise? Don’t Overlook These 24 Important Franchise Fees

If you are considering a Fresh Coat franchise, don’t get blindsided by these 24 important franchise fees (from the initial franchise fee, to the royalty fee, to 22 other fees found in Items 5 and 6 of Fresh Coat’s 2019 FDD).

1.  Initial Franchise Fee:  $44,900

• The franchise fee for a territory with a population of between 175,000 and 200,000 is $44,900. If the population of your territory exceeds 200,000, you must pay an additional $500 for each 1,000-population unit (or any portion of a 1,000-population unit) in excess of 200,000.

• For example, for a territory with a population of 201,135, the total franchise fee would be $45,900 [$44,900 + (2 x $500)].

• The initial franchise fee is fully earned and non-refundable upon receipt.

• During the first 24 months after you purchase your first franchise, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on the then-current initial franchise fee for each additional franchise that you purchase. To be eligible for this discount, you must pay the entire franchise fee at the time you sign the Franchise Agreement for the initial franchise and for each additional franchise.

• Fresh Coat is a member of the International Franchise Association and participates in the IFA’s Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative (“VetFran Program”), which encourages franchise ownership by offering financial incentives to honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Fresh Coat offers a $2,000 discount on the initial franchise fee to veterans who meet Fresh Coat’s requirements and those of the VetFran program.

2.  Deposit:  $5,000

• You can reserve a specific territory for up to 30 days by paying a $5,000 deposit and sending Fresh Coat a signed Deposit Remittance Form. The deposit is fully earned and non-refundable upon Fresh Coat’s receipt, in consideration of its reservation and removal from the market of your territory for 30 days, and will be applied toward your initial franchise fee.

3.  Website Fee:  $95

• You must pay an initial Website Fee of $95 to cover the cost and maintenance of website(s) you will use in the operation of the business.

4.  Right of First Refusal:  $3,000

• Your Franchise Agreement does not give you any option, right of first refusal, or similar right to acquire additional franchises, but you may purchase a right of first refusal to purchase an additional franchise territory. The price for a right of first refusal is $3,000, which would be credited toward the initial franchise fee if you exercise the right of first refusal.

• A right of first refusal would give you the right to purchase a specific territory first if another prospective purchaser shows an interest in purchasing the territory within 1 year after you purchase the right of first refusal.

• You would have 7 calendar days after notice by Fresh Coat to exercise the right. Fresh Coat must receive the entire balance of the then-current initial franchise fee for the territory by the seventh day after you receive the notice.

• A right of first refusal lasts for 1 year.

5.  Royalty Fee:  6% of Gross Revenues; $300 monthly minimum

• Due Date:  Payable by the fifth day of each month.

• Paid on Gross Revenues for preceding month ending on Friday.

6.  National Branding Fund:  2% of Gross Revenues; $350 monthly minimum

• Due Date:  Payable by the fifth day of each month.

7.  Local Cooperative Advertising:  up to 3% of your Gross Revenues unless a majority of the cooperative members agree on a higher contribution

• Due Date:  Monthly.

• If an advertising cooperative is established or operating in your area, you must contribute.

8.  Transfer Fee:  the greater of either $10,000 or 3% of the purchase price, plus legal and administrative costs

• Due Date:  Prior to consummation of transfer.

• Payable when you sell your franchise; no Transfer Fee is payable for transfers to a company you form for the convenience of ownership.

9.  Lead Referral Fee:  $10,000

• Due Date:  Upon a transfer of your franchise to a buyer who was already listed in Fresh Coat’s sales database at the time you and the buyer began discussing a sale.

• Intended to partially reimburse Fresh Coat for its costs in developing leads who then purchase from existing owners.

10.  Formation of Business Entity:  variable

• Due Date:  Within 90 days after signing the Franchise Agreement.

• If you sign the Franchise Agreement individually, then you must form a business entity (such as a corporation) and assign your individual rights in the franchise to the business entity.

11.  Grand Opening Promotion:  $3,000 to $4,000

• Due Date:  1-2 months before opening.

• Before opening, you must spend at least $3,000, as directed by Fresh Coat, on a grand opening promotion.

12.  Electronic Copies of Marketing Materials:  variable

• Due Date:  Upon order by you.

• Should you request electronic copies of marketing materials, you will need to reimburse the national branding fund for its costs in creating the materials.

13.  Technology/Software License Fee:  $95

• Due Date:  Monthly.

• You must pay a fee for technology/proprietary software that Fresh Coat licenses or makes available to you for use in the operation of the business.

14.  Website Fee:  $95

• Due Date:  Monthly.

• You must pay a fee to cover the cost and maintenance of website(s) and web hosting services Fresh Coat makes available for your use in the business.

15.  Franchisee Meetings:  $350 per person

• Due Date:  Prior to attending meeting.

• Fresh Coat may hold regional and/or national meetings with its support personnel and franchisees.

16.  Late Fee:  greater of $100 or 10% of royalty or branding fee; $50 for ACH payments returned for insufficient funds; $100 for late sales reports or other business records

• Due Date:  On demand.

• You must pay a late fee on any payment or sales report that Fresh Coat receives more than 5 days late.

17.  Interest:  18%

• Due Date:  On demand.

• In addition to the late fee above, any payments more than 30 days late accrue interest at the rate of 18% per year.

18.  Audit Fee:  cost of audit, plus 18% interest on underpayment

• Due Date:  On demand.

• Payable only if audit is prompted by your failure to maintain or submit records or audit shows an understatement of Gross Revenues of at least 3% for any week.

19.  Territory Amendment Fee:  $1,500

• Due Date:  Prior to amending territory.

• If Fresh Coat allows you to amend your franchise territory, you must pay a fee to compensate it for its costs.

20.  Sales/Use Taxes:  variable

• Due Date:  Payable with your royalty or national branding fee payments.

• You must pay any state or local sales or use tax that may be assessed on the royalties, advertising fees, or other fees you pay to Fresh Coat.

21.  Reimbursements:  amount of expense advanced, plus 18% interest

• Due Date:  On demand.

• You must reimburse Fresh Coat if it pays your expenses if you fail to so do, such as rent, taxes, customer refunds, or other liabilities.

22.  Legal Expenses:  amount of expense advanced, plus 18% interest

• Due Date:  On demand.

• You must pay any legal expenses Fresh Coat incurs, including attorney fees, to enforce your Franchise Agreement.

23.  Mapping Software Updates:  $200

• Due Date:  On demand.

• Fresh Coat may, from time-to-time, need to update its internal map-keeping software to reflect demographic and population changes in your territory; if Fresh Coat does so, it may charge you a reasonable fee, not to exceed $200, to compensate it for its costs.

24.  Indemnification:  amount of expense advanced, plus 18% interest

• Due Date:  On demand.

• You must reimburse Fresh Coat fully if it is held liable for claims arising from your business.