What sales, costs, and expenses are Aplus franchisees 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
- (f) Sunoco reserves the right to terminate or change on a minimum of thirty (30) days' notice the back office or accounting system provided to you by Sunoco.
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. Aplus, through Sunoco, may provide franchisees with certain accounting systems for a fee, not exceeding $100 per month, in addition to the third-party software costs. However, franchisees are ultimately responsible for maintaining accurate business records.
Sunoco, the franchisor, has the right to modify the required accounting and bookkeeping procedures in the manual at its sole discretion. Aplus will have access to reports regarding merchandising sales, margin, and sales mix data compiled on the franchisee's APLUS Store. Additionally, Aplus has 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.
Furthermore, Aplus is authorized to obtain records pertaining to products and services provided to the franchisee's APLUS Store directly from the franchisee's vendors and suppliers. The franchisee may be required to sign an authorization allowing the vendor/supplier to release such records to Aplus. Sunoco also reserves the right to terminate or change the back office or accounting system provided to the franchisee with a minimum of thirty days' notice.
This requirement ensures that Aplus has a comprehensive view of the franchisee's financial performance and operational data, allowing for better monitoring and support. Franchisees should ensure they understand the specific requirements for data entry and reporting to maintain compliance with Aplus's standards.