What is the relationship between the required computer systems for a Budget franchise (Item 11) and the ongoing obligations outlined in Item 9?
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.
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Budget's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are obligated to maintain computer systems that are compatible with Budget's "Wizard" system, as outlined in the Rental System Agreement. Budget will provide ongoing repairs, maintenance, and upgrades to the Wizard system as necessary. Franchisees must acquire compatible computer hardware, software, and communications equipment from sources that Budget designates or approves, which may include Budget or its affiliates.
Budget and its designees have independent and unlimited access to the Wizard system and all other computer systems, hardware, and software that the franchisee uses. This access allows Budget to monitor and access all information and software on such systems without any contractual limitations.
The FDD excerpt does not specify how these computer system requirements directly relate to the obligations outlined in Item 9. Item 11 references Article VI of the Budget License Agreement regarding honoring National Account agreements and participating in Programs, which is also listed as obligation "cc" in the table. Item 9 would typically cover the franchisee's ongoing fees and payments to the franchisor, but the provided excerpts do not detail those specific obligations or how they connect to the computer systems.