Apricot Lane Boutique Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1996

Franchising Since: 2004

Headquarters: Fairfield, California

Estimated Number of Units: 110

Franchise Description: The name of the franchisor is Country Visions, Inc. The franchise is for a retail specialty store selling, fashion apparel and accessories, bath and body products, gifts, wall decor and other merchandise under the mark “Apricot Lane.”
Training Overview: The training program consists of two phases. The first phase consists of orientation and Phase I onboarding, which must be completed by all new franchisees at home before the second phase of training. The second phase includes an in-boutique experience, and a buy at a designated market (e.g. Dallas market), tradeshow and/or event that the franchisor designates to purchase opening inventory. Phase one consists of approximately 131 hours and phase consists of approximately 55 hours. The franchisor may provide and may require that previously trained and experienced franchisees and/or their managers or employees attend and successfully complete continuing education training programs or seminars to be conducted virtually or at another location as it may determine. Owners and associates may attend national conventions, conferences, seminars and training at such times and locations as determined by the franchisor.

Territory Granted: Franchisees have the right to operate the Apricot Lane store at a specific location within the protected area described in the Franchise Agreement. While there is no minimum size for a protected area, the franchisor typically will define a protected area as follows: (1) if the store is inside an enclosed mall, the protected area is limited to the mall property; (2) for stores that are part of a larger facility, the protected area is limited to the shopping center, entertainment complex, tourist attraction (e.g., amusement park, museum, etc.) or other facility in which the site is located; or (3) for stores at stand-alone locations, the protected area is typically defined as a one- to two-mile radium from the store, but will depend on the market. The protected area is only protected to the extent that neither the franchisor nor any affiliate will locate either a company-owned or franchised Apricot Lane within the protected area during the term of the Franchise Agreement.

Obligations and Restrictions: The franchised business must at all times be under the franchisee’s on-premises management and supervision except where delegation of this duty to a manager is permitted. Franchisees must devote full time and best efforts to the management and operation of the franchised business except as set forth in the Franchise Agreement. The franchisor has the right to add to or otherwise modify the required purchases and vendor lists at its discretion. Franchisees must maintain an inventory reasonably adequate to meet the needs of customers. The franchisor has the right to require the franchisee to carry a minimum dollar amount of merchandise.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years beginning on the first day of the lease term for the premises. If franchisees are in good standing, they can renew for two additional successive terms of five years each.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or obligation. The franchisor may provide a $5,000 reduction on the initial franchise fee to veterans of U.S. Armed Forces who meet the criteria.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee (first store)	$39,500	$39,500
Real Estate/1st month rent	$0	$10,000
Deposits (Lessor, Utilities, Providers)	$0	$5,000
Store Designer/Architect	$10,000	$12,000
Plan Review Fee	$0	$1,500
Construction/Leasehold Improvements	$0	$100,000
Center Construction Fees & Demolition	$0	$2,500
Cash Wrap/Associated Millwork Package	$13,000	$15,000
Flooring & Installation	$1,000	$10,000
Display Fixture Package, Bags and Boxes	$4,000	$15,000
Computer & Software	$9,000	$12,000
Initial Inventory	$35,000	$45,000
Insurance Deposit	$0	$3,500
Exterior Signs	$13,000	$14,000
Expenses While Training	$2,500	$5,000
Grand Opening, Pre- and Post-Opening Marketing	$10,000	$12,000
Grand Opening Marketing Fee	$0	$1,500
On-Site Store Opening and Visual Merchandising	$3,450	$4,500
Initial Store Marketing & POP Package	$1,500	$1,800
Office Equipment, Furniture & Supplies	$1,000	$2,500
Lease Negotiations and Lease Legal	$5,000	$5,000
In Store Music/Video System	$500	$2,000
Professional Fees	$500	$1,000
Additional Funds - 3 months	$20,000	$40,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL (for first store)	$168,950	$360,300

Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty Payments	5.5% of gross revenues.
Option Fee	$15,000
Advertising and Development Fund	1% of gross revenues.
Marketing and Advertising Coverage Area (MACA) Payments	The franchisee’s share of the advertising expense for the MACA not to exceed $4,000 a year.
Outside Service Fee	$1,000
Late Fees	$5 per day for each day the royalty or other payment or reports are late.
Finance Charge	Lower of 18% or highest legal rate for open account business credit accrued from due date.
Transfer Fee	$30,000
Field Visits	Cover the franchisor’s travel expenses only.
Relocation	Reasonable costs incurred by franchisor.
Audit	Cost of an inspection or audit.
Insurance	Premiums for required insurance and franchisor’s costs and expenses.
Indemnification	Cost of defending and indemnifying Country Visions if claims are made against the franchisor because of the franchisee’s franchised operations.
Liquidated Damages	Varies based on unexpired term of the franchisee’s franchise agreement. Maximum is amount equal to prior 36 months of royalty payments.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Apricot Lane. Year of FDD: 2025.
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