In what forms or manners must a Chocolate Fish Coffee franchisee accept payment from customers?
Chocolate_Fish_Coffee Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
meet or exceed any minimum score requirements set by Chocolate Fish Franchising for such programs. Chocolate Fish Franchising may set minimum scores that Franchisee must receive from the public on internet review sites (such as Yelp or Google).
- 7.10 Payment Systems. Franchisee shall accept payment from customers in any form or manner designated by Chocolate Fish Franchising (which may include, for example, cash, specific credit and/or debit cards, gift cards, electronic fund transfer systems, and mobile payment systems). Franchisee shall purchase or lease all equipment and enter into all business relationships necessary to accept payments as required by Chocolate Fish Franchising. Franchisee must at all times comply with payment card industry data security standards (PCI-DSS).
- 7.11 Gift Cards, Loyalty Programs, and Incentive Programs. At its own expense, Franchisee shall sell or otherwise issue gift cards, certificates, or other pre-paid systems, and participate in any customer loyalty programs, membership/subscription programs, or customer incentive programs, designated by Chocolate Fish Franchising, in the manner specified by Chocolate Fish Franchising in the Manual or otherwise in writing.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 41–119)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Chocolate Fish Coffee's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must accept payments from customers in any form or manner designated by Chocolate Fish Coffee. This includes, but is not limited to, cash, specific credit and/or debit cards, gift cards, electronic fund transfer systems, and mobile payment systems.
This requirement means that a prospective Chocolate Fish Coffee franchisee does not have the autonomy to decide which forms of payment to accept. Instead, they must adhere to the payment methods dictated by the franchisor. This could involve investing in specific point-of-sale (POS) systems or hardware to accommodate the required payment methods.
Furthermore, franchisees are obligated to sell gift cards and participate in any customer loyalty programs, membership/subscription programs, or customer incentive programs designated by Chocolate Fish Coffee. They must also honor all valid gift cards, regardless of where they were issued. This ensures consistency across all Chocolate Fish Coffee locations and reinforces brand standards. Franchisees must also comply with all procedures and specifications related to these programs.