What is the minimum monthly technology fee that Brightstar Care charges?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
.4.3 Payment will be prorated for any partial month during which the Agency was open for business and payable as per the terms of our invoice.
4.5 Monthly Athena Business System and Email Service Fee
Beginning on the Opening Date and for the remainder of the Initial Term, you must pay BrightStar Technology, without offset, credit or deduction of any nature, a monthly ABS and Email service fee (the "Monthly ABS & Email Service Fee") on the 15th day of each month. If you acquired the Agency operated under this Agreement as a result of a transfer, you must begin paying BrightStar Technology the Monthly ABS and Email Service Fee as of the effective date of the transfer. The Monthly ABS and Email Service Fee does not include any fees associated with third party CRMs (i.e., Microsoft Teams / One-drive / Web version office package, Hireolo
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 117–118)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must pay a monthly Athena Business System (ABS) and Email service fee. This fee is paid to BrightStar Technology on the 15th of each month, starting from the Opening Date of the franchise.
The minimum Monthly ABS & Email Service Fee is $250 per month. However, the fee could be higher, as it is the greater of $250 or .83% of the prior month's Net Billings during the Initial Term of the Franchise Agreement. This means that as a franchisee's Net Billings increase, the monthly technology fee will also increase.
It's important to note that this fee does not cover any costs associated with third-party Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Hireology, or payroll/HR software. Franchisees are also responsible for purchasing or licensing any third-party software or hardware that BrightStar Care or BrightStar Technology deems necessary for operating the ABS. This could add to the overall technology expenses for the franchisee.