How long does a Brightstar Care franchisee have to install and commence use of changes or enhancements to the Computer Infrastructure Package?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Document as Exhibit G. From time to time, we may enter into additional agreements with software vendors that will require your acceptance of their license agreements. We reserve the right to designate changes or enhancements to the Computer Infrastructure Package used in your Agency, the computer hardware, software, and other equipment. When we designate the change or enhancement to the Computer Infrastructure Package, you may be required to make certain payments to us or our designated suppliers. You will have 3 months to install and commence use. You must procure your accounting software and cash application and collection software from us or any third party we designate and the Athena Business System and its successors from us or one of our affiliates, currently BrightStar Technology. You alone are responsible for maintenance and support of your local computer equipment and mobile devices.
The initial cost to purchase the Computer Infrastructure Package will range from $4,000 to $9,500. The monthly maintenance, repair, or upgrade of the Athena Business System and any annual cost to you for any optional or required maintenance, support, upgrades and updates to that system are covered by the Athena Business System Monthly Service Fee. By contrast, all hardware and computer network maintenance and upgrades of other software are your responsibility and must be done in a timely manner. There are no contractual limitations on the frequency or cost of upgrades or changes in the Computer Infrastructure Package, including software we may impose. Upgrades could cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more annually. This cost may be controlled by leasing the Computer Infrastructure Package on relatively short-term leases
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 47–67)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, when Brightstar Care designates a change or enhancement to the Computer Infrastructure Package, franchisees have 3 months to install and commence its use. The franchisee may be required to make certain payments to Brightstar Care or its designated suppliers for these changes or enhancements.
Brightstar Care franchisees are required to procure their accounting software and cash application and collection software from Brightstar Care or any third party they designate. The Athena Business System and its successors must be obtained from Brightstar Care or one of its affiliates, currently BrightStar Technology. Franchisees are solely responsible for the maintenance and support of their local computer equipment and mobile devices.
The initial cost to purchase the Computer Infrastructure Package ranges from $4,000 to $9,500. The monthly maintenance, repair, or upgrade of the Athena Business System and any annual cost for optional or required maintenance, support, upgrades, and updates to that system are covered by the Athena Business System Monthly Service Fee. However, all hardware and computer network maintenance and upgrades of other software are the franchisee's responsibility and must be done in a timely manner. Upgrades could cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more annually, but this cost may be controlled by leasing the Computer Infrastructure Package on relatively short-term leases common in the industry.