What is the potential annual cost of upgrades to the Computer Infrastructure Package for a Brightstar Care franchise?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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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, franchisees may face annual costs for upgrades to their Computer Infrastructure Package. While the monthly maintenance of the Athena Business System is covered by a separate fee, franchisees are responsible for the maintenance and upgrades of other software and hardware components of the Computer Infrastructure Package. These upgrades could cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more annually.
This means that a Brightstar Care franchisee needs to budget for potential technology upgrades each year. The actual cost will depend on the specific upgrades required and the franchisee's approach to managing their IT infrastructure. The FDD suggests that leasing the Computer Infrastructure Package on short-term leases could help control these costs.
It's important to note that Brightstar Care retains the right to designate changes or enhancements to the Computer Infrastructure Package, and franchisees will be required to implement these changes, potentially incurring costs. There are no contractual limitations on the frequency or cost of these upgrades, which introduces a degree of uncertainty for franchisees. A prospective franchisee should discuss with Brightstar Care what typical upgrades have cost existing franchisees in recent years to better estimate this ongoing expense.