Under what conditions will CKR provide Support Services to a Carls Jr. franchisee?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 1.5 "Support Services" means telephonic help desk Level 1 and 2 maintenance services provided by CKR for the Licensed Products and Covered Equipment as described on Exhibit A.
1.6 "Software Support Fees" means that fees payable by Franchisee to CKR for the Support Services.
ARTICLE 2
SUPPORT SERVICES
- 2.1 Support Services. CKR will provide the Support Services to Franchisee subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
CKR, in its sole discretion, may subcontract with third party vendor(s) to provide the Support Services directly to Franchisee.
Franchisee may request Support Services by calling CKR's Help Desk at the access number set forth in Exhibit A, as modified from time to time
- 2.2 Covered Equipment. In order to facilitate the Support Services, Franchisee agrees to operate the Covered Equipment in accordance with the CKR's and the manufacturer's instructions.
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.
- 2.3 Required Equipment. Franchisee must install the following Next Generation Connectivity equipment and services in order to receive Support Services from CKR: 1) Cisco Meraki Firewall/Router with Advanced Security License; 2) Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points, Cisco Meraki 48 port switch; 3) highly reliable internet with auto failover LTE backup; 4) Wi-Fi for guests (if Internet speeds are fast enough to support it) and back of house operations.
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).
- 3.1 Software Support Fees. Commencing at the end of the first Fiscal Period following the date of this Agreement, Franchisee shall pay to CKR, by ACH payment, the Software Support Fees in the amounts and frequency set forth on Exhibit A. CKR shall have the right, upon 60 days' prior written notice to Franchisee, to increase the Support Services Fees.
- 3.2 Initial Training Support for PAR Brink and Crunch Time Software. In order to facilitate the support services, Franchisee agrees to purchase and participate in mandatory initial training programs for use of the PAR Brink and Crunch Time software. The scope of the training programs for each software is set forth on Exhibit C to this Agreement. The cost for the training programs shall be a one-time fee of $1,250
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 76–364)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, CKR will provide Support Services to a franchisee based on certain terms and conditions. CKR will provide telephonic help desk Level 1 and 2 maintenance services for the Licensed Products and Covered Equipment as described on Exhibit A. CKR may also choose to subcontract with third-party vendors to provide these support services directly to the franchisee.
To facilitate these support services, the franchisee must operate the Covered Equipment according to CKR's and the manufacturer's instructions. The franchisee is also required to have agreements with Par Tech, Inc. or Retail Technology Group, Inc. (RTG) for onsite and telephonic maintenance services for the Covered Equipment, with the franchisee being billed directly for these services. These agreements with Par Tech and RTG do not cover the costs of parts and labor needed to keep the equipment functional.
Additionally, to receive support services from CKR, the franchisee must install specific Next Generation Connectivity equipment and services, including a Cisco Meraki Firewall/Router with Advanced Security License, Cisco Meraki Wireless Access Points, a Cisco Meraki 48 port switch, reliable internet with auto failover LTE backup, and Wi-Fi for guests and back-of-house operations. The franchisee must also contract with a CKR-approved managed service provider (currently AT&T and One Source Communications) to monitor and maintain their network equipment and must procure and install dedicated data lines, including telephone and/or high-speed Internet connections, modems, and other computer-related equipment as specified by CKR or the Franchisor. Franchisees are also required to purchase and participate in mandatory initial training programs for use of the PAR Brink and Crunch Time software, with a one-time fee of $1,250.
In order to receive the Support Services, the franchisee must pay CKR Software Support Fees, with the amounts and frequency set forth on Exhibit A. CKR has the right to increase these fees with 60 days' prior written notice to the franchisee. Franchisees may request Support Services by calling CKR's Help Desk at the access number set forth in Exhibit A, as modified from time to time.