How does the cost to implement a credit card processing system for a Brain Balance franchise vary?
Brain_Balance Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- Note 14: The cost to implement a credit card processing system varies based on the vendor you choose.
Some vendors will waive fees to acquire the hardware, while others will charge you an implementation fee and an annual PCI compliance fee.
In addition to the cost to set up your credit card processing system, you will incur transaction fees when you accept credit card payments.
We expect that the merchant services agreement transaction fee average 2.25% to 3.5% depending on the type of payment..
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 19–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brain Balance's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the cost to implement a credit card processing system can vary depending on the vendor a franchisee chooses. Some vendors may waive fees for the hardware, while others might charge an implementation fee and an annual PCI compliance fee.
In addition to the initial setup costs, Brain Balance franchisees will incur transaction fees for each credit card payment they accept. The FDD notes that these merchant service agreement transaction fees are expected to average between 2.25% and 3.5%, depending on the type of payment.
It's important to note that Brain Balance specifies how these transaction fees impact royalty calculations. If a franchisee chooses a vendor with transaction fees higher than the set percentage, Brain Balance will only deduct the set percentage from the gross revenue (GR) when calculating royalties. Conversely, if a franchisee negotiates a lower transaction fee, they can retain the difference, which will be factored into the GR used to calculate the royalty. This policy incentivizes franchisees to seek cost-effective credit card processing solutions while ensuring fair royalty calculations.