For Carls franchisees, are they required to use specific vendors for onsite and telephonic maintenance services for the Covered Equipment?
Carls Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Franchisee shall enter into an agreement with Par Tech, Inc. ("Par Tech") or Retail Technology Group, Inc. ("RTG") to provide onsite and telephonic maintenance services to the Covered Equipment.
Par Tech or RTG will bill Franchisee directly for such services.
The agreements with Par Tech and RTG do not include the cost of any parts and/or labor needed to keep the Covered Equipment functional.
Franchisee must contract with a CKR approved managed service provider to monitor and maintain their network equipment (currently this is limited to AT&T and One Source Communications).
Franchisee agrees to procure and install such required dedicated data lines, including telephone and/or high-speed Internet connections, modems and other computer-related accessory or peripheral equipment as specified by CKR and/or Franchisor.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 80–480)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 FDD, Carls franchisees are required to use specific vendors for onsite and telephonic maintenance services for the Covered Equipment. Franchisees must enter into an agreement with either Par Tech, Inc. or Retail Technology Group, Inc. to provide these maintenance services. These companies will bill the franchisee directly for their services.
It is important to note that the agreements with Par Tech and RTG do not cover the cost of any parts or labor required to keep the Covered Equipment functional. This means that while the franchisee is using approved vendors for maintenance services, they will incur additional costs for parts and labor needed for repairs.
In addition to the above, franchisees must also contract with a CKR approved managed service provider to monitor and maintain their network equipment. Currently, the approved providers are limited to AT&T and One Source Communications. This ensures that Carls maintains a level of standardization and quality in its technical infrastructure across all franchised locations. Franchisees are also responsible for procuring and installing dedicated data lines, including telephone and/or high-speed Internet connections, modems, and other computer-related equipment as specified by Carls.