Is participation in the Wizard online reservation system mandatory for a Budget franchisee?
Budget Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ental make rental reservations available to you through the Budget Reservations System under the terms set forth in the Rental System Agreement (the Budget License Agreement, paragraph 6.2). Wizard is an online, real time reservations system. Participation in Wizard is mandatory because Budget considers Wizard to be a significant part of the Budget Rent A Car System. Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC or its subsidiaries currently will provide you with services under the Rental System Agreement as follows:
- a) Provide facilities, equipment, and personnel for the Budget Reservation System which may be reasonably necessary for the solicitation, reception, and transmission of national and international re
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, participation in the Wizard online reservation system is mandatory. Budget considers Wizard to be a significant part of the Budget Rent A Car System. As part of the Budget License Agreement, franchisees must enter into a Rental System Agreement with ABCR that governs the use of Wizard.
Wizard is used to generate and store reservation, rental, and customer data, providing Budget with unlimited, independent access to this information. Franchisees are required to acquire, install, and maintain specific computer hardware, software, and communications equipment to connect to Wizard. The estimated cost for this equipment varies depending on the chosen connection method, with options including connecting via the Internet or using Thin Client infrastructure.
If a franchisee chooses to access Wizard through the Internet, they must also secure Internet access through an Internet Service Provider and implement computer security standards. Alternatively, using Thin Client, a PCI-compliant infrastructure, involves different costs and monthly fees depending on the network solution. A Site Survey, conducted by a Budget-approved third-party supplier, is necessary before implementing Thin Client to assess the location's network and physical requirements, with the franchisee bearing the survey fees directly.
Budget also provides ongoing repairs, maintenance, and upgrades to Wizard as necessary. Franchisees must purchase, lease, or acquire computer hardware, software, and communications equipment that is fully compatible with the Rental System Agreement requirements, as modified by Budget. Budget has independent access to the Wizard system and all other computer systems used by the franchisee, with no limitations on this access. This ensures that Budget can monitor and manage the rental operations effectively.