How might Burros Fries provide information and support after the business opens?
Burros_Fries Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
(Franchise Agreement Section 20.A).
During your operation of the Business, we may:
- (1) Provide additional on-site supervision and assistance as we deem necessary and in our discretion. Additional visits are for the purpose of advising you with respect to food preparation, menu items, products, services, kitchen equipment operation, customer service, operational, sales and marketing matters and personnel issues related to your Business. You will be responsible for the transportation, room and board and miscellaneous expenses incurred by our personnel during the visits, which will take place per the terms of the Franchise Agreement, or at your request, and at times and dates selected by us (Franchise Agreement, Section 20.A).
- (2) Monitor the operation of your Business and inspect the inventory of products, supplies and kitchen equipment at your Business then advise you of the results for each inspection, at our cost. If you fail the inspection twice in any two (2) year period, we may charge you a fee of $1,000 (as described above in Item 8). If we have not inspected your Business in the past twelve (12) months and you would like to have an inspection performed, you will need to notify us in writing and we will perform the inspection within three (3) months of your request. For any inspections that you request, the cost of the inspection will be at your expense (Franchise Agreement Sections 10.F, 12.I, 12.Q and 20.A).
- (3) Provide to you and your manager(s), refresher and/or continuing education meetings at locations designated by us, which we expect to be our headquarters with a fee of $300 per person per ½ day plus our expenses, which can vary from area to area. We reserve the right to increase the per day fee a reasonable amount based on reasonable criteria (Franchise Agreement, Section 20.A).
- (4) Conduct quarterly meetings or an annual convention at such place as shall be designated by us, at our current fees which can change based on our cost (Franchise Agreement, Section 20.A).
- (5) Establish a franchise elected peer group whose main purpose is to mentor and support each other.
- (6) Provide an intranet system, free of charge, to answer questions from you or your staff (during regular business hours, Pacific Time Zone). In addition, you will be able to send us questions and suggestions using Internet email (Franchise Agreement, Sections 20.A).
During your operation of the Business we will:
- (1) Continue to consult with you at no additional charge regarding policies, approved products, menu and retail items, supplies, food preparation and presentation, kitchen equipment, vendor and supplier relationships, industry developments, sales, advertising, marketing and promotion strategies as well as provide assistance to you to resolve operational problems that you may encounter outside the scope of the Operations Manual (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.V and 20.A).
- (2) Provide you with updated and written lists of approved products, menu items, retail items, supplies, kitchen equipment, services (as described in Item 8) that you are authorized to use, offer and sell in your Business. We will also continue to add and approve new vendors and supplies and provide you with updated and current lists of such approved vendors and suppliers for all products, supplies, kitchen equipment and services you are allowed to purchase from for the operation of your Business. We will provide you with such updated lists, but not the actual items as you are responsible for purchasing and/or leasing such items. We will continue to approve products, menu items, retail items, supplies, kitchen equipment, vendors and suppliers you are allowed to use, offer and sell in your Business. You may be responsible for paying any costs related to testing any samples as described in Item 8 (Franchise Agreement, Sections 12.H, 12.I, 12.J, 20.H and 20.I).
- (3) Suggested pricing for all menu items, retail items. We may establish minimum and maximum prices you can charge to the extent allowed by law.
- (4) Provide you with updated and approved recipes, food preparation and presentation standards. We will provide you with such updated recipes, standards and specifications and you are responsible for purchasing all ingredients and products that may be necessary for implementation. (Franchise Agreement, Section 12.H and 20.A).
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 27–38)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Burros Fries's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, after the business opens, Burros Fries may provide support and information through several avenues. They may offer on-site supervision and assistance concerning food preparation, menu items, products, services, kitchen equipment operation, customer service, operational, sales and marketing matters, and personnel issues. The franchisee is responsible for covering the costs of transportation, room, board, and other expenses incurred by Burros Fries's personnel during these visits. Burros Fries may also monitor the business's operation and inspect inventory, advising the franchisee of the results.
Additionally, Burros Fries may provide refresher and continuing education meetings for the franchisee and their managers at a fee of $300 per person per ½ day, plus expenses. They may also conduct quarterly meetings or an annual convention, with fees that can change based on their costs. A franchise-elected peer group may be established to provide mentoring and support.
Burros Fries also offers a free intranet system and a telephone hotline for franchisees and their staff to ask questions during regular business hours (Pacific Time Zone). Franchisees can also send questions and suggestions via Internet email. Furthermore, Burros Fries will advise franchisees of operating problems disclosed by reports or inspections and furnish guidance and assistance, including methods and operating procedures related to various aspects of the business. They also offer certain training programs to assist franchisees and their management staff and provide additional training to any new manager. The franchisee is required to purchase updates and upgrades for technology items, with costs ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 initially and estimated annual hardware and software upgrades costing approximately $1,500 to $1,700, though this could be higher if Burros Fries changes companies.