The Franchise Guides
Starting and running a Ghostbusters fan franchise
GBFans.com is home to the largest community of Ghostbusters fan franchises in the world. These guides cover the questions we get asked most: what a fan franchise actually is, how to start one, how to select a charity, how to navigate the legal boundaries around the Ghostbusters property, and how to keep your members - especially minors - safe.
These pages are community-edited. If something here is wrong or out of date, help us fix it.
Getting Started
The basics of what a fan franchise is and how to create one.
Designing a Ghostbusters Fan Franchise Logo
How to design a franchise logo that looks good on a patch, respects the Ghostbusters trademark boundary, and gives you room to grow.
How to Start a Ghostbusters Fan Franchise
A realistic walkthrough of starting a Ghostbusters fan franchise from scratch — what to do first, what to do second, and which mistakes to avoid.
Picking a Name, Slug, and Territory for Your Franchise
How to choose a franchise name that ages well, a URL slug that reads right, and a coverage area you can actually serve.
What Is a Ghostbusters Fan Franchise?
A Ghostbusters fan franchise is an organized, regional group of fans who appear in costume, raise money for charity, and celebrate the Ghostbusters universe. Here's what that means in practice.
Running Your Franchise
Charity, events, social media, governance, and handoff.
Handing Off an Inactive Franchise
What to do when your franchise winds down, merges with another, or when a new generation of members wants to take over — ledger, roster, social accounts, and the legal tail.
Internal Governance for Fan Franchises
How to write a simple constitution, set up officer roles and elections, and resolve the kinds of disputes that inevitably show up in volunteer groups.
Running Public Events as a Fan Franchise
A practical playbook for fan-franchise event logistics: what to confirm before you say yes, what to bring, how to staff, and what can go wrong.
Selecting a Charity for Your Fan Franchise
How to pick a charity that fits your franchise, vet it properly, and avoid the common traps — political heat, faith-specific missions, and bad 990 filings.
Social Media and Press for Fan Franchises
How to handle your franchise's public voice — what to post, what not to post, how to answer a reporter, and what to say when Sony shares your photo.
Legal
Trademarks, 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and insurance.
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Basics for Fan Franchises
When it makes sense for a fan franchise to become a real non-profit, what that actually involves, and the lighter alternatives most groups use instead.
GhostCorps, Sony, and the Ghostbusters Trademark
Who owns the Ghostbusters property, what fan use is generally tolerated, and the specific things that will get your franchise a cease-and-desist letter.
Insurance Basics for Ghostbusters Fan Franchises
Why even small fan franchises should carry general liability insurance, what 'certificate of insurance' requests actually mean, and how to shop for coverage.
Safety & Screening
Member screening and safeguarding minors.
Safeguarding Minors at Fan Franchise Events
How to structure your events so children are never alone with a single adult, how to handle photography consent, and the specific behaviors your policy must forbid.
Screening New Members for Your Fan Franchise
How to run a member vetting process that catches red flags before someone joins your franchise — application, references, background checks, and the warning signs to take seriously.
Reference
FAQs and quick-reference material.