What are the 'Technologies' that a Buff City Soap franchisee must purchase before opening their Franchised Business?
Buff_City_Soap Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
rograms. We will determine all phases of this advertising, marketing and promotion in our sole discretion. (Franchise Agreement Section 10(e))
Advertising Council
We currently have no advertising council composed of franchisees. We have no obligation to create an advertising council. We may develop such in the future.
Computer Systems
You must purchase and install before opening your Franchised Business the Technology Systems that we require, including the hardware and software to run a computer-based point-of-sale system and other associated systems and peripherals ("Technologies") necessary to operate a Buff City Soap retail establishment. We will advise and work with you to select these Technologies from our approved solutions. We estimate the cost to purchase the required Technologies, from an approved vendor is between $6,741 to $20,000. In the future, we may provide assistance in developing and planning installation of these Technologies and we reserve the right to charge our thencurrent fee in connection with said assistance. You will pay the Technology Fee in connection with your use and access of the Technologies. The Technology Fee may be modified at any time to reimburse us for costs incurred in modifying any proprietary software that we license to you and other components of the technology systems. We and our affiliates have no obligation to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades or updates to your Technologies. (Franchise Agreement Section 8(a))
We have independent access to the information generated and stored on the Technologies. Upon notice to you, at your cost and expense, the Technologies may be electronically linked to our or our affiliate's network. You will provide us with access to any information on the Technologies as we require, with or without notice, to retrieve transaction information, including customer, sales, s
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 35–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buff City Soap's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must purchase and install specific technology systems before opening their franchised business. These "Technologies" include the necessary hardware and software to operate a computer-based point-of-sale (POS) system, along with other associated systems and peripherals essential for running a Buff City Soap retail establishment. Buff City Soap will advise and assist franchisees in selecting these technologies from their approved solutions.
The estimated cost for purchasing these required technologies from an approved vendor ranges from $6,741 to $20,000. Buff City Soap may offer assistance in developing and planning the installation of these technologies in the future, and they reserve the right to charge a fee for this assistance. Franchisees are also responsible for paying a Technology Fee for the use and access of these technologies, which may be modified to cover costs incurred by Buff City Soap in modifying proprietary software or other technology system components.
Buff City Soap and its affiliates are not obligated to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or updates to the franchisee's technologies. The franchisor has independent access to the information generated and stored on these technologies and may electronically link them to their network. Franchisees must provide Buff City Soap with access to any information on the technologies, including customer, sales, sales mix, usage, and other operations data. While Buff City Soap may require periodic updates, upgrades, or replacements of the POS system, franchisees will not be required to replace the POS system more than once every five years.