What fees are Bambu franchisees responsible for regarding the POS system?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are required to purchase a point-of-sale system, including hardware to service our loyalty rewards program, that meets our specifications. The point-of-sale system that we currently require is the Square bundled system (defined in Item 11 as the "POS System"). It contains the required supporting hardware and software applications, which has the capability of facilitating our system-wide customer loyalty rewards program and has built in merchant software for both shoppe and hands-free online ordering credit card processing and customer tipping. You will pay the provider of the POS System monthly fees for maintenance and updates. Currently, we derive no revenue from your purchase of the POS System, although we reserve the right to derive revenue from your purchase and license of the POS System or any proprietary software, if and when we develop our own proprietary system or software and license them to you. See Items 7 and 11. We may require you to use a new or different point-of-sale system in the future, in which case you must convert your POS System to the new system. You must own a smartphone or other mobile device with access to the Internet enabling you to communicate via SMS. Additionally, we require that you login to, regularly access, and fully participate in our FRC, which includes communicating with other franchisees and with us. We may also require you to purchase additional hardware equipment, software and possible subscriptions to online applications meeting our minimum specifications in the future at your expense. Your participation and your communications on our FRC are governed by the standards, specifications and guidelines we establish from time to time. See Items 7 and 11.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 22–26)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to purchase a point-of-sale (POS) system that meets Bambu's specifications, including hardware to service their loyalty rewards program. The currently required POS system is the Square bundled system. This system has the capability of facilitating Bambu's system-wide customer loyalty rewards program and has built-in merchant software for both shoppe and hands-free online ordering credit card processing and customer tipping.
Bambu franchisees will pay the provider of the POS System monthly fees for maintenance and updates. While Bambu currently derives no revenue from the purchase of the POS system, they reserve the right to derive revenue from the purchase and license of the POS System or any proprietary software if and when they develop their own proprietary system or software and license them to franchisees. Bambu may also require franchisees to use a new or different point-of-sale system in the future, in which case the franchisee must convert their POS System to the new system.
In addition to the POS system, franchisees must own a smartphone or other mobile device with internet access to communicate via SMS. They are also required to regularly access and fully participate in Bambu's Franchisee Resource Center (FRC). Bambu may also require franchisees to purchase additional hardware equipment, software, and possible subscriptions to online applications meeting their minimum specifications in the future at the franchisee's expense. Franchisees should consider these potential technology-related costs when evaluating the Bambu franchise opportunity.