What sales, costs, and expenses is an Aplus franchisee required to enter into the backoffice system?
Aplus Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- (b) You are required to enter all sales, costs of sales, and business expenses into the backoffice system. Sunoco reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change or modify the required accounting and bookkeeping procedures in the Manual; (c) Sunoco will have access to reports regarding merchandising sales, margin and sales mix data compiled on your APLUS Store; (d) Sunoco shall have the right to have access to all profit and loss statements, balance sheets and supporting documentation directly from you or from the back office or accounting system; (e) You authorize Sunoco to obtain directly from your vendors and suppliers all records pertaining to products and services provided by each such vendor/supplier to your APLUS Store. Upon Sunoco's request, you may be required to sign an authorization (to be prepared by Sunoco) authorizing the applicable vendor/supplier to release such records to Sunoco; and
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–302)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Aplus's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to enter all sales, costs of sales, and business expenses into the backoffice system.
Sunoco, Aplus's parent company, may offer accounting systems to franchisees, but the franchisee is ultimately responsible for maintaining accurate business records. The FDD states that Sunoco does not verify the accuracy of these records, and franchisees should consult with their own accountant or tax advisor to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax regulations.
Sunoco will have access to reports regarding merchandising sales, margin, and sales mix data compiled on the Aplus store. They also have the right to access all profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and supporting documentation directly from the franchisee or from the back office or accounting system. Additionally, Sunoco can obtain records pertaining to products and services provided to the Aplus store directly from the franchisee's vendors and suppliers.