For a Budget franchise, am I required to purchase or lease computer hardware, software, and communications equipment from sources that Budget designates or approves?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Thin Client to determine the network and physical needs of your Location. The Site Survey must be conducted by a Budget approved third-party supplier and the fees for the Site Survey are paid by you directly to the supplier.
ABCR will provide ongoing repairs, maintenance upgrades, or upgrades to Wizard as necessary. You must purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire, from sources Budget designates or approves (which might include or be limited to Budget or its affiliates), computer hardware, software and communications equipment that is totally compatible with and strictly conforms to the requirements of the Rental System Agreement as Budget may modify those requirements during the term. Budget cannot estimate the annual cost of maintenance or upgrade obligations and their associated costs. There are no contractual limitations on the frequency or cost of your obligations under this section of the Budget License Agreement.
Budget and its designees will have independent access to the Wizard system and all other computer systems, hardware, and software you use. Budget and its designees may access all information and software on such systems and there is no limitation on such access. There are no contractual limits upon our access to your computer information.
Marketing and Advertising.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–61)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to acquire computer hardware, software, and communications equipment from sources that Budget designates or approves. This equipment must be fully compatible with and strictly conform to the requirements of the Rental System Agreement, which Budget may modify during the term of the agreement. These designated or approved sources may include Budget or its affiliates.
Budget cannot estimate the annual cost of maintenance or upgrade obligations for these systems. There are no contractual limitations on the frequency or cost of these obligations under the Budget License Agreement. This means a franchisee could face unexpected and potentially significant costs related to maintaining and upgrading their computer systems.
Budget and its designees have independent access to the Wizard system and all other computer systems, hardware, and software used by the franchisee. They can access all information and software on these systems without limitation. This level of access gives Budget significant oversight and control over the franchisee's computer systems and data. Wizard is Budget's online, real-time reservation system, and participation in Wizard is mandatory for franchisees, as Budget considers it a significant part of the Budget Rent A Car System.