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Ben & Jerry's waives fee | Inside Franchise Business

Ben & Jerry’s waives $35,000 franchise fee for a limited time only

Sarah Stowe

Iconic ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry’s is waiving its initial franchise fee in Australia for a limited period.

The special offer means new franchisees will save $35,000, investing $18,000 rather than $53,000.

Franchisees will need to pay $15,000 for two weeks of intensive and immersive training, as well as a $3,000 documentation fee.

The discounted deal is available for all new franchisees in Australia who sign up to a Ben & Jerry’s franchise before 30 September 2022.

Ben & Jerry’s hopes to open up its network of scoop shops to more would-be business owners with this offer, the second time the ice cream chain has cut costs for a specific period. Back in 2020  the franchise fee was reduced by $20,000.

The Ben & Jerry’s initiative forms part of the global brand’s direct expansion plans with current emphasis on locations including Brisbane, Adelaide, Cronulla, Coogee, Circular Quay and Canberra with a price range between $250,000 and $450,000.

Ben & Jerry’s has now been trading for more than four decades, and counts more than 570 Scoop Shops across its global network of 38 countries.

The chain is recognised globally for its social justice ethos, based on a mission that was developed in the 1980s and is still a guiding force for the brand today.

With the pandemic tightening everyone’s purses, cutting back on upfront fees has been a common solution for businesses wanting to attract new franchisees.

Other franchisors keen to broaden their reach have included iconic retail chain Clark Rubber which incentivised franchise buyers to invest in its new premium mobile van business with a discounted offer; pool care business Poolwerx, which sliced $40,000 off its fee; and allied health chain Physio Inq, which slashed its franchise fee by 85 per cent in a shake-up of the business model.