What is included in the estimate for technology fees for a Brain Balance center?
Brain_Balance Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Assumes all furniture and equipment is purchased new.
Note 10: This estimate includes all your hardware costs, software license fees paid to third parties, and costs for assistance from an information technology (IT) service to help with initial set up of your network, firewall, and internet access, and for annual maintenance agreement with that IT service. The annual maintenance agreement is optional, but we recommend it. You may obtain your office computer hardware from any reputable supplier. You must ensure that all programs and applications running on your computer are legally licensed and that you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on each machine. We will provide support regarding any IT issue related to the Software you are using in connection with the Brain Balance Program® (CRM or email, for example), but you will be responsible for computer hardware, Internet access, other software installed, and security, which includes ensuring that your location is PCI compliant.
Note 11: We estimate that the range given will be sufficient to cover general office supplies, such as files, folders, paper, and writing utensils for the first three (3) months of the operation of the Franchised Business, including marketing and advertising materials that must be purchased from an approved vendor.
Note 12: You may use an approved third-party call center, or employ an experienced sales person, who will be solely responsible for responding to incoming leads, provided you obtain our prior written approval. Our estimate includes only the cost of
monthly enrollment in a Call Center. Costs for leads and assessments are included in our estimate of Additional Funds.
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 technology fees estimate includes hardware costs, software license fees paid to third parties, and costs for assistance from an information technology (IT) service. This IT service helps with the initial setup of the franchisee's network, firewall, and internet access. The estimate also covers an annual maintenance agreement with that IT service, which Brain Balance recommends but does not require.
The FDD specifies that Brain Balance will provide support for IT issues related to the software used in connection with the Brain Balance Program, such as the CRM or email systems. However, franchisees are responsible for their computer hardware, internet access, other installed software, and security, including ensuring PCI compliance.
Additionally, franchisees are required to acquire and use accounting software that meets Brain Balance's standards, currently QuickBooks, which can be either purchased or licensed monthly. The cost to implement a credit card processing system can vary depending on the vendor chosen; some may waive hardware fees, while others charge implementation and annual PCI compliance fees. Franchisees will also incur transaction fees for credit card payments, estimated to average 2.25% to 3.5%, depending on the payment type.