What are the maintenance obligations for the electronic point of sale equipment at a Circle K store?
Circle_K Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
iant with governmental regulations, including without limitation the Americans With Disabilities Act.
In connection with operating your Circle K Store, you must enter into the Software Agreement with us, an affiliate of ours or a third party we designate, which will cover the electronic point of sale equipment, back-office system, and any other computer system(s) we deem appropriate, to be used at your Circle K Store. (A copy of the Software Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2 to the Convenience Store Franchise Agreement.) Under the Software Agreement, you must maintain and service the equipment in accordance with our specifications and in accordance with any manuals relating to the equipment. You may be required to enter into a separate agreement with a third party we designate covering the use and maintenance of the systems required for your Store, including the electronic point of sale system, back office system, and/or any other computer system or communication software we deem necessary to run a Circle K Store, or to collect data from your Store. We currently require you to use Verifone or Radiant for your point of sale system and SSCS as your back office system.
If you will not offer any fuel for sale at the Franchised Location or if you will execute the Motor Fuel Agreement or the Branding Agreement, you will be required to utilize the TMC Network, our electronic point of sale network, and, in connection therewith, purchase designated back-office system, license designated software and firmware and purchase other related computer equipment that we designate. In connection therewith, you must sign the Credit Network Agreement which sets forth the terms and conditions under which you will utilize the TMC Network. You will be required to pay us a monthly Network Fee in exchange for the right to use the TMC Network. The monthly Network Fee you will be required to pay will be our then-current Network Fee, which as of the date of this Disclosure Document
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 45–52)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Circle K's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to maintain and service the electronic point of sale (POS) equipment in their stores. This obligation is formalized through a Software Agreement that franchisees must enter into with Circle K, its affiliates, or a designated third party. The Software Agreement covers the electronic point of sale equipment, back-office system, and any other computer systems Circle K deems necessary for the store's operation.
The maintenance and servicing of the POS equipment must be performed according to Circle K's specifications and in accordance with any manuals provided for the equipment. Circle K currently requires franchisees to use Verifone or Radiant for their point of sale system and SSCS as their back office system. Franchisees may also be required to enter into a separate agreement with a third party designated by Circle K for the use and maintenance of the systems, including the electronic point of sale system, back office system, and other necessary computer or communication software.
For franchisees who will not offer fuel or who will execute the Motor Fuel Agreement or Branding Agreement, Circle K mandates the use of the TMC Network, its electronic point of sale network. This involves purchasing a designated back-office system, licensing specific software and firmware, and acquiring other related computer equipment as designated by Circle K. Franchisees using the TMC Network must also sign a Credit Network Agreement and pay a monthly Network Fee. As of the date of the 2025 Disclosure Document, this fee is $50 per month, but Circle K reserves the right to modify the fee with 30 days' advance written notice. Therefore, it is important for prospective franchisees to factor in these ongoing technology costs and maintenance obligations when evaluating the Circle K franchise opportunity.