What software is a Chocolate Bash franchisee required to use?
Chocolate_Bash Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
| Type of Fee | Amount | Due Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of your gross sales | Monthly by the 5th day of the following month | See Note 1 and Note 2. |
| Marketing Fund Contribution | 1% of your gross sales | Monthly by the 5th day of the following month | |
| Market Cooperative Contribution | As determined by co-op. Currently, none. | Monthly by the 5th day of the following month | We have the right to establish local or regional advertising cooperatives. There is no maximum on the contribution determined by the co-op. |
| New Manager Training fee | Currently, $15,000 | Prior to attending training | If you send a manager or other employee to our training program after you open, we will charge our then-current training fee. |
| Third party vendors | Pass-through of costs, plus reasonable administrative charge. Currently, none. | Varies | We have the right to require franchisees to use third-party vendors and suppliers that we designate. Examples can include computer support vendors, mystery shopping, and customer feedback systems. The vendors and suppliers may bill franchisees directly, or we have the right to collect payment for these vendors together a reasonable markup or charge for administering the payment program. |
| Software subscription | Currently, $200 - $250 per month | Monthly | We require you to use certain software as described in Item 11. You pay subscription fees directly to the software supplier, an |
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 9–13)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Chocolate Bash's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to use certain software, as detailed in Item 11. The monthly cost for this software subscription ranges from $200 to $250, payable directly to the software supplier, not to Chocolate Bash.
This requirement means that prospective franchisees must budget for this ongoing technology expense in addition to other fees. It is common in franchising for franchisors to mandate specific software to ensure brand consistency, data collection, and efficient operations across all locations. These systems often cover point-of-sale, inventory management, customer relationship management, and reporting.
While the FDD mentions the requirement to use specific software and the associated costs, it refers to Item 11 for a more detailed description. To fully understand the software requirements, a potential franchisee should carefully review Item 11 of the FDD and ask Chocolate Bash for a demonstration of the required software. This will help them assess its usability and integration with their business operations.